THANK YOU!

Your chance to hail everyday unsung heroes of lockdown

IN these worrying and uncertain times, it is the little acts of kindness that keep us going.

For Catherine Brown, 82, the twice-weekly visits from her greatgranddaughter Lily Brown, 11, who drops off bread, milk and butter, make the long days stuck at home feel a little bit easier.

Mrs Brown, who suffers from osteoarthritis and arrhythmia, is one of the 1.5 million people in the UK with serious underlying health conditions who have been asked to stay at home for 12 weeks to minimise their risk of catching the killer coronavirus.

Although she misses her craft club and getting to the shops, Mrs Brown’s greatest disappointment is not being able to catch-up with Lily and bake her favourite muffins. It is those same muffins that Lily, a Girl Guide, yearns to share again.

But for now, Lily’s only goal is to make sure her great-grandmother is safe and well.

Lily said: ‘It’s important to look after your relatives. I want to make her happy.’

Mrs Brown told how she has a special connection with her first great-grandchild.

‘She can be a bit cheeky but I love her a lot,’ she said.

‘During this lockdown, Lily comes and rings the bell and leaves my shopping for me and then I say, “Thanks sweetheart”.

‘I look forward to when she comes over. I miss my great-grandchildren more than anything, so it means a great deal to me.’

Mrs Brown’s heartwarming tribute to Lily comes as The Scottish Mail on Sunday launches our ‘Say Thank You’ campaign, recognising those whose generosity brightens these dark days.

It is an opportunity for readers to write to people to thank them for their gestures of goodwill – however small or large.

In the coming weeks, we aim to print as many of the touching notes, alongside pictures of you and your everyday heroes, as we can.

Today, we also pay tribute to the printers, delivery drivers and shop staff who work tirelessly to bring you your favourite weekly newspaper.

And, in these increasingly uncertain times, we also say thank you to you, our loyal readers.

Recognise the people whose actions have lifted your spirits by emailing thankyou@mailonsunday.co.uk and attaching a short letter and a picture of both you and your everyday hero. We hope it will cheer you as much as reading your letters have cheered us.