Schoolboy raises hundreds of pounds to buy PPE for nurses treating coronavirus patients

A schoolboy has raised hundreds of pounds to buy PPE for NHS nurses treating coronavirus patients who look after him when he injures himself playing rugby.

Riley Maitland has also dipped into his own pocket to buy toiletries for staff at Sunderland Hospital as a thank you for their care when he was hurt playing his favourite sport.

The generous 14-year-old from South Hylton in Sunderland, raised the cash by doing a 10k run last week and asking friends and family to sponsor him.

So far he has raised £350 to buy face masks, aprons and gloves for the frontline health workers but is hoping to collect more.

The teenager, who plays for Ashbrooke under 14s in Sunderland and also Gateshead Storm rugby team, told Mirror Online the staff at the hospital have been good to him in past and he wanted to pay them back.

Riley used his own money to buy toiletries for doctors and nurses (Supplied)

He said: "I have been to the hospital lots of times for suspected broken bones and actual broken bones like, fingers, collar bone and toes and the doctors and nurses are always really good with me and I like to crack jokes with them.

"A few of friends of my family have coronavirus or have had it so I wanted to raise money for hospital staff because of the impact Covid-19 has on them.

The teenager ran 10k to raise money to buy the PPE (Supplied)

He delivered his generous donations to the hospital last week (Supplied)

"I wanted them to have the right PPE and they have helped me lots in the past as I have had rugby injuries so it's the least I can do."

Kind-hearted Riley is no stranger to fundraising as he has previously taken part in sponsored events hosted by his rugby clubs and shaved his head several times in support of cancer charity MacMillan.

Riley has been treated several times at the hospital (Supplied)

He also takes part in the weekly 'Clap for our carers' campaign where the nation stands outside their homes to thank NHS workers and carers by applauding for them every Thursday at 8pm.

" I clap and bang on a pan every time," Riley said.

Riley with his parents Leanne and Mal, who is also his rugby coach (Supplied)

"I think do think they all deserve a pay rise."

Last week Riley visited Sunderland Hospital to hand in bags of toiletries he bought for workers and plans to revisit soon to donate the PPE.

Riley's mum Leanne Maitland, a former NHS administrator and medical secretary, said: "I am so very proud of Riley who off his on back he decided he wanted to set up a just giving page to help out City Hospitals Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Trust.

"I worked for the trust for 16 years and so this has really touched me."

To make a donation to Riley's fundraiser visit here.