Two charities are teaming up to create their own fundraising success story next week and raise money for patients and service users at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust through a book sale.

The Trust’s Well Wishers charity works closely with Consultant Paediatrician Professor Abdul Gatrad who founded WASUP – initially Walsall against Single Use Plastic – now World Against single Use Plastic.

And Professor Gatrad is setting up a stand in the atrium at Walsall Manor Hospital to sell his children’s book “The story of three plastic bottles.” One pound from every copy sold will go to Well Wishers which funds items above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.

And the Mayor of Walsall will also be popping in at 11.30am to lend her support as Well Wishers is one of her three chosen charities this year. Miss Black Country will also join the fundraising effort.

Professor Gatrad, who was awarded an OBE from the Queen in 2002 for the work he had done to halve the mortality of new-born babies in the borough and to develop the hospital’s Paediatric Assessment Unit, said he was looking forward to the fundraiser.

“WASUP may be a global charity, but charity definitely begins at home and for me that is Walsall,” he said.

“Well Wishers is a super, local charity that is driven by a desire to improve experiences for patients and service users. In the past it has raised money for a sensory room in the community for children with complex disabilities as well as a seating area in the hospital café and a chill out room for teenagers using the Children’s Ward. WASUP’s roots are in Walsall and we’re proud to team up with Well Wishers and the Mayor to raise money.”

The stall will be set up on Monday 10 October between 10am and 6pm.

Georgie Westley, Trust Fundraising Manager, added: “We’re really pleased that WASUP has agreed to donate money from its book sales to Well Wishers and look forward to seeing lots of visitors to the stall next week.”

WASUP raises awareness of plastic waste and climate change issues. Professor Gatrad set up The 2022 Challenge for the recent Commonwealth Games which saw volunteers collect 2022 bags of litter from January 2020 to the start of the event in areas where the games were held.