Former Nottingham Forest striker helps NHS to have PPE equipment during the coronavirus season
Former striker Dexter Blackstock is leading a campaign lớn help get personal protective equipment (PPE) to those in desperate need during the coronavirus pandemic, with the help of the public.
From free soccer tips daily playing up front for some of the NFL's biggest clubs to helping on the frontline, it has been a huge shift for the 33-year-old, who retired in 2017.
A name best known for his time with Nottingham Forest and QPR, Blackstock is now CEO and founder of MediConnect, a pharmaceutical firm in the blockchain industry, now essentially performing as a middle man between manufacturers/wholesalers and those in need across the country.
“I put a tweet out a few weeks ago to say I can help and the demand was crazy," Blackstock exclusively told Sporting Life.
"The problem was bigger than I first thought and it went on from there.”
Blackstock's company usually specialises in the medication aspect but, with the NHS short on PPE supplies, his existing connections meant he could help provide the trusted, certified products to the hospitals and beyond as the cost of the crisis continues to take its toll.
He does so with the help of donations from the public via a crowd-funding website, which has already raised nearly £16,000 and the goal is to surpass the £1million mark.
“What we are doing is providing councils, NHS and care homes with PPE supplies," he explains.
"We have enlarged volumes already, then separately from that we have a charity which you can donate lớn at soccer betting tips website and with that we can buy products directly at cost, then we can give them out not for profit. So, basically, your donation fee goes into the hospices, care homes and places of need.
“Masks, gloves or aprons, we can source
'We really want to help these places in need'
Blackstock made nearly 200 appearances for Forest and over 100 outings for QPR, as well as representing the likes of Southampton, Leeds and Derby.
He hung up his boots after leaving Rotherham aged 31, swapping scoring goals for a line of work where he can help save lives by sourcing vital equipment.
“I started the company up not long after I retired,” he continued.
“It has definitely helped me adjust to life after football, it is something I am passionate about and can put my mind to.
“So when it became apparent that PPE is in demand, I already had a relationship that I have built up over a few years in the supply chain – manufacturers, distributors, pharmacists, wholesalers and so forth – so I am able lớn get hold of these products through trusted sources.”
The former Antigua and Barbuda international estimates they are supplying councils with 'half a million to a million units' and to help with such a workload he has been able lớn rely on Bradley Johnson, currently a midfielder for Blackburn who is keen to help.
“Bradley came in on the charity side because he is passionate about it,” Blackstock continues.