Darryl seeks funding to continue making shields for key workers

* Darryl Maxwell at work on his 3D printer.

* A key worker gives the thumbs up to one of Darryl's face shields.

A community-minded Llangollen man who has already made 600 face shields to protect key workers from Covid-19 is looking for funding to go on producing them.

Former bus driver Darryl Maxwell has been using the 3D printer he and partner Clare MacPartland bought to turn out toys for their children to fashion the plastic shields which he has so far donated to hospital and care home staff.

Cash to pay for the raw materials necessary to make them has just run out, so Darryl has started an online funding appeal to carry on with the good work.

Clare said: “Darryl and I have lived in Llangollen for two years. He used to be a bus driver until I started to get ill with bad back pain and nerve damage and he had to stop work to help with our family.

“We came to have 3D printing equipment because our children love anime and the stuff they like and want to buy is expensive as it isn’t a common thing you see in every shop.

“So we invested in a 3D printing machine to make things that our children like.

“Darryl started making the shields because his mum works for the NHS and the personal protective equipment was under-supplied.

“So he used the printer to make some for his mum and it went from there.”

Clare added: “We did what we could out of our own money and what filament we had before setting up a fundraiser on Facebook which has now finished after bringing in £600.

“We now have a gofundme page after speaking to family and people who have supported him.

“He has made about 600 face shields and a few little bits like door pullers and ear savers and each shield costs about £1 to make.

“We have handed out these out to the chemist, the doctors, care homes and Home Bargains, all in Llangollen, and also to Wrexham Maelor Hospital. We have even been sending some to Bangor as they need them too.” 

Darryl’s new funding appeal has so far raised less than £100 of his £1,000 target figure.

He says on the page: “Any money donated will be used to purchase more filament, acetate sheets, material and elastic.

“If you can donate any filament, acetate sheets of 240 micron or more, elastic or material then please contact me.

“This will help loads of people massively and we would be very thankful for your support.”

* The link to Darryl’s funding page is: gf.me/u/xy54xf