West Ham United have proudly joined forces with Secret Hamper to support the ‘ThankYouNHS – 70 hampers to 70 hospitals’ initiative, delivering bespoke festive hampers to hard-working NHS staff at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
This hospital holds special significance for the Club—it was here that former Hammer Michail Antonio received vital care following a serious road traffic accident nearly one year ago.
A Heartfelt Gesture Funded by the Chairman
The hampers—personally funded by West Ham United Chairman David Sullivan—were created in the Club’s famous claret and blue colours and delivered as a token of appreciation to frontline NHS staff who work tirelessly to support the local community.
Representing the Club on the day was Academy Director Kenny Brown, who emphasised just how important community support is to everyone at West Ham United.
“Supporting our community is so important to us as a Club, so it’s a real privilege to be here today, on behalf of the Chairman and everyone at West Ham United, to say thank you to the NHS staff here that work tirelessly all year round.”
– Kenny Brown
A Mission Rooted in Gratitude
The delivery was made alongside Nigel Richardson, founder of Secret Hamper and the driving force behind the NHS70 initiative. Nigel created the campaign in memory of his late father, who received compassionate care from NHS nurses during his cancer treatment. Since then, the initiative has touched thousands of NHS staff across the UK with messages of heartfelt thanks.
A lifelong West Ham supporter, Nigel spoke emotionally about the Club’s involvement in this latest delivery:
“As a lifelong West Ham fan, I’m truly humbled and proud that, after hearing about our ThankYouNHS hamper campaign, David Sullivan chose to support it so generously.”
“This has enabled David & the Club to give something back to the incredible staff at the hospital that first cared for Michail Antonio after his accident.”
For this visit, Nigel and the Secret Hamper team created 70 bespoke ‘West Ham-Pers’—beautifully designed hampers tailored especially for Royal London Hospital staff.
A Warm Welcome from Hospital Staff
The hampers were gratefully received by NHS teams across the hospital. Simmi Naidu, Deputy Director of Nursing, expressed how meaningful the gesture was during such a busy time of year:
“We are incredibly grateful to West Ham United for this generous donation. Our staff work incredibly hard, especially during the busy winter period, and these gifts will provide a real boost to morale. On behalf of everyone at the hospital, thank you for your kindness and support.”
Among those welcoming the Club’s gesture was Zane Perkins, the Trauma Surgeon who treated Michail Antonio following his accident. He reflected on the significance of appreciation in a city as vast as London:
“It’s nice when people appreciate what we do.”
“I think it is brilliant, especially the connection we share with east London. Smaller towns and cities have a much bigger community feel, and in London that can be lost because of its size, so it’s nice to see when it does happen.”
Long-time West Ham fan Gary, a Porter Manager at the hospital, echoed those sentiments, sharing how much the gesture meant to staff personally:
“I feel appreciated, feel proud that whatever you do is making an impact on people and that gratitude is shown.”
“Any type of acknowledgement is a morale boost, especially during Christmas time.”
Continuing a Proud Commitment to the Community
West Ham United’s partnership with Secret Hampers highlights a shared commitment to recognising the extraordinary work of NHS staff. For both the Club and Secret Hampers, this initiative is about more than festive gifts—it’s about honouring the people who care for our communities day in and day out. From all of us at Secret Hampers, a heartfelt thank you to West Ham United for supporting our mission, and an even bigger thank you to the incredible NHS staff at The Royal London Hospital.
