On December 8 2020 all eyes were on University Hospital Coventry. The world watched as Matron May Parsons administered the first Covid-19 to 90 year old Margaret Keenan. The scene was broadcast across the globe, but the vaccine wasn’t the only thing that caught people’s attention.
Everyone was soon enamoured by Margaret’s blue Penguino T Shirt, the Christmas T Shirt of University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Charity. The festive top, normally purchased by staff to wear on the wards, became an overnight global sensation!
‘Penguino’ gained popularity across the world and became a symbol of the joy and hope that the first vaccination brought to us all.
Now, one year on, the Charity have launched a new T Shirt for 2021 featuring Penguino plus some new friends! The T Shirt, which will raise money for University Hospital, Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, is priced at £10 and is available now!
To commemorate the anniversary of the first vaccine, staff are being encouraged to wear a UHCW Charity Penguino Christmas T Shirt on December 8. Then on Friday 10 December, staff across the Trust will don their Penguino T Shirts once again to celebrate Christmas T Shirt Day! Join them on either day by wearing your Penguino T-shirt!
UHCW Charity Director, Jo O’Sullivan said “We’re excited to share our 2021 Penguino and Friends Christmas T-shirt, proudly worn by our charity ambassadors Maggie Keenan and Matron May Parsons. All funds raised will make things better for staff, patients and their families over the Christmas period”
Local business Uzin Utz UK are once again supporting the staff and patients of their local hospitals by sponsoring this year’s T-shirt, as they did in 2020.
Managing Director of Uzin Utz UK, Matthew Brown said “The heroes at UHCW provide exceptional care and welfare for their patients. Our support over the last 18 months reflects our gratitude to their dedication and it is a privilege to sponsor the Christmas T-shirts again to commemorate their achievements”
UHCW Charity are grateful to Uzin Utz Uk for stepping up to support our local heroes over the last twenty months and beyond as we continue to deal with the effects of the pandemic, particularly concerning the wellbeing of our staff.
Your team can get involved by wearing your Penguino T-shirt in the office!
If you want your own iconic Penguino, you can order your 2020 and 2021 T-Shirts at www.uhcwcharity.org/shop. Every T Shirt purchased is a donation to your local hospitals, making things better for NHS staff, patients and their families.
Key dates: Wednesday 8 December 2021 Anniversary of the first Covid-19 Vaccine (International Penguino Day) / Friday 10 December 2021 UHCW Christmas T-shirt Day
To find out more about UHCW Charity, please visit www.uhcwcharity.org
NOTES TO EDITORS
About University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity (UHCW Charity)
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Charity was founded in 1996 with the aim to make things better for staff, patients, and their families. It is the registered charity for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (University Hospital, Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby) and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (local mental health, learning disability and community services). Thanks to your generous support, we can fund world-leading equipment, train NHS staff in ground breaking techniques and improve facilities, helping to create a warm and comfortable environment for all. Together we can make life-saving projects happen sooner for our patients, so that they can be out of pain faster and get home to their loved ones.
UHCW Charity Team:
Tel: 02476 966 059 Email: uhcwcharity@uhcw.nhs.uk