We just want to thank our pandemic heroes
CELEBRITIES are lining up to call for a national Thank You day in honour of local Covid heroes.
They want neighbours, friends and family to get together for a nationwide day of gratitude on July 4. The campaign starts today with a video featuring well-known figures thanking those who have helped them through the crisis. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, 65, said: “I want to thank the person who has been caring for my mother over the past year. She has been so generous with her time and spirit and care.” Actor Michael Sheen, 52, said: “I don’t want this to sound like some terrible Oscar speech but I want to say thank you to our little daughter Lyra who has spent most of her life in lockdown. Thank you Lyra for keeping us busy, and entertained and sleep deprived.”
The idea for the day of gratitude
has been put forward by people from across the UK, including nurse May Parsons who delivered the UK’s first Covid jab. She thanked the “incredible” volunteers who supported frontline workers, as well as school staff who looked after their children, shop staff and delivery workers who “helped keep us and the country going”.
Ms Parsons added: “As a country we aren’t always great at saying thank you to each other.
“But this year, we want to be part of changing that.
“To choose one day where we all pause to say thank you to each other. To remember what binds us together, not just what pushes us apart.
“We all have different people to thank, from family members to key workers, good neighbours to volunteers.” Other famous faces involved include actresses Dame Judi Dench, 86, and Felicity Kendal, 74, chef Ainsley Harriott, 64, singer Craig David, 40, and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, 26.
It follows huge public support for the NHS’s 72nd anniversary that was held over the same weekend last year.