Yahoo News X-Men star James McAvoy donates £275,000 to NHS amid coronavirus pandemic
X-Men star James McAvoy has donated £275,000 to the NHS to help in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
The actor donated the money to a crowdfunding campaign set up by a group of doctors, with the funds to be spent on vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
The campaign has already raised £440,000, surpassing the original target of £200,000, which has now been increased to £500,000.
Speaking to The Guardian, Dr Salaj Masand, one of the medics behind the campaign, described McAvoy's donation as "mind-blowing", and that it allowed them to immediately place an order of 75,000 masks and 75,000 visors.
"We are overwhelmed and speechless at the trust and faith people have put into us to deliver this," said Masand. "The number of very generous donations from everyone doubled our target within three days.”
Related: Tom Hanks pays tribute to those who helped him through coronavirus as he and his wife return home
McAvoy helped to explain the crowdfunding campaign in a number of Instagram videos, saying: "Money donated today will save lives.
"Help us to help the government to help the NHS. The situation is truly urgent and time is of the essence."
You can donate to the cause via the campaign's official crowdfunding page here.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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