Digital freight forwarder Flexport and healthcare consumable provider 365 Healthcare have successfully shipped 16.5 tonnes of PPE to the UK’s NHS using funds from Flexport’s Frontline Responder’s Fund – co-funded with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 16.5 tonnes include 3.2 million face masks and is the first shipment funded by donations from Flexport’s Frontline Responders fund, which has raised £6.4 million to date, and received backing from celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.
365 Healthcare has been dedicated to supporting its customers across the UK and Ireland.
“During these exceptional times, our UK teams have worked diligently to enable us to support our customers and partners through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted that this vital equipment has been received by the NHS, and the frontline workers who need this equipment the most,” said Alex Bonthrone at 365 Healthcare.
“Our partnership with Flexport.org has enabled us to overcome the difficulties faced as a result of global supply chains disruption, whilst supporting the cost of the delivery through Flexport’s Frontline Responder’s Fund.”
Organisations from around the world have offered their support to alleviate the supply issues of vital PPE equipment, through donations of medical supplies and money to the Frontline Responders Fund. Globally, the fund has awarded $8.1 million to support the shipment of over $94 million worth of PPE.
Donations from individuals and organisations have made these deliveries possible, amongst these was a generous donation from the former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger: “Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are the real action heroes of this crisis. I just play one in the movies. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to provide them with personal protective equipment right now to keep them safe as they fight this virus, so when I heard about Flexport.org’s plan, this was a no-brainer to me.”
