Former Leeds United and Rotherham United striker supplying PPE to NHS staff

The 33-year-old is the founder and chief executive of a medical technology firm called MediConnect, currently coping with the relentless demand for PPE among frontline staff in the NHS, care homes and hospices.

Blackstock’s company is accepting donations from the public via a crowd-funding website donatetonhs.com and is being assisted by ex-Leeds midfielder Bradley Johnson, who has committed to delivering life-saving equipment to key workers near his home in Derby.

Blackstock said: “The demand is through the roof.

“I was building the platform for a couple of years. You have to build a relationship with everyone along the supply chain – pharmacies, manufacturers, distributors, logistics companies – to bring it all together.

“PPE is one of the biggest problems people are struggling with. I have the connections – instead of people just coming out the woodwork – which means you can actually get the product. I can help source this.”

Already, the fund-raising initiative has raised a five-figure sum and is assisting greatly in an unprecedented time of crisis for the country.

Johnson, who plays for Blackburn Rovers, continued: “When people donate, they can see what we’re spending the money on and what supplies we’re getting.

“It’s a step-by-step transaction. They can donate and once we make the order we’ll put it on our website so people can see the amount of stuff we’re getting.

“The aim is to go further than hospitals. We know now how much of a shortage the NHS is going through.

“We want to target the NHS but also the care homes or key workers – like bus drivers who are putting their lives at risk transporting NHS staff.

“If we get in contact with people in Derby I’ll go out and deliver. We want it to be known we’re doing something.

“We’re not just sitting at home, wanting people’s money and then letting others do the work. We’re going to do it ourselves.”

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