Kind and selfless... lockdown’s unsung heroes
THROUGHOUT the Covid-19 crisis little acts of selflessness and kindness have proved a lifeline to those in need.
From delivering essential supplies to the vulnerable to undertaking fundraising drives for NHS charities, the country is packed full of unsung heroes who have made monumental differences to many millions during the pandemic.
The UK is awash with inspirational stories – and now the search is on to find some of the most heartwarming.
A campaign has been launched urging communities, family and friends to nominate their lockdown heroes. Biography-writing service StoryTerrace is creating a book which will celebrate 25 of Britain’s unsung heroes, telling individual tales of selflessness and heroism.
Chief executive Rutger Bruining said: “I have learned above all that a sense of community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing and preserving and reminiscing on our own life stories is so important to our happiness. Documenting memories and the emotions attached to them allow us to share and reminisce on our personal tales – and everyone has a story worth sharing.”
Nominations are now open with the public urged to vote for their favourite.
Here the Daily Express features 10 inspirational stories which showcase the very best of British.
●To nominate before June 15, visit info. storyterrace.com/us/unsung-heroes.
ALI HARRIS, 50, Hertfordshire
Despite losing loved ones to the virus, the nurse has cancelled holidays and continues to help patients at Lister Hospital in Stevenage.
Ali regularly reads her patients letters from their families to provide comfort.
She was nominated by cousin Kai Addams, 31, who said: “Ali has never missed a shift and smiles the entire time – despite losing her mother-in-law to Covid-19 and having to plan her funeral.
“Ali often gets to work at 8am and does not return until gone midnight.
“She’s now almost broken – but she will keep going until she has fixed everyone. “
MICHEY CHAN, 46, Poplar, London
Chef Michey’s day job is preparing up to 1,000 meals a day at London’s five-star Dorchester Hotel. But during lockdown he has started cooking at a school to feed children of key workers and teachers. He has also started cooking classes and is raising money for school equipment.
CAITLYN BILBY, eight, Chelmsford, Essex
Caitlyn makes and sells bracelets to buy treats for key workers. She has been selling the bracelets for £1.50 and has raised £250 to buy tulips for nurses at a memory clinic and a big box of sweets and treats for her local paramedics station. Caitlyn and brother James have also made sure vulnerable neighbours have prescriptions, essential supplies and food.
Before the pandemic Alice was an assistant manager of a shared working space in London but it was forced to close because of the crisis.
To ensure her former coworkers remained connected she has been teaching online workouts to help keep people’s spirits up.
She donates 25 per cent of the voluntary contribution for the classes to charity weekly.
PAUL WILKIE, 49, Perth
The decorated war hero served for 22 years as a bomb disposal expert.
He suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and Army injuries but volunteers for Scone Community Council and delivers medication and food to at-risk neighbours.
CARMEN CUNNINGHAM, 62, Windsor
She has worked for the British Red Cross for 20 years, looking after elderly people after they leave hospital and helping them readjust to everyday life. She lost her husband and father and was a live-in carer for her mother until she recently passed away.
Realising she still had more to offer she retrained as a carer during the crisis.
ALICIA HANCOCK, 24, Liverpool
The key worker does night shifts at Sainsbury’s and prepares orders for delivery.
She was part-time but volunteered to go full-time at the start of the pandemic because food demand soared. Her friends said: “She would do absolutely anything for anybody.”
ANDREW FARIS, 47, Pentonville, London
The founder of charity Rhythms of Life, Andrew makes sure homeless Londoners have food and essential supplies.
He started the charity after being homeless for six years, sleeping behind the Savoy Hotel.
RUBY MUGHAL, 42, Birmingham
During the Covid-19 crisis pharmacy clinician Ruby has assisted besieged GP services by tracking high-risk groups for blood monitoring – especially if they are medically unwell, immunosuppressed, asthmatic or having cancer treatment.
She has spent the duration of the pandemic talking to those with Covid-19 symptoms on the phone, reassuring them and making sure they receive the right guidance and direction.
ASIF SHAKOOR, 40, Newham, London
After a year-long recovery from a serious car accident he was inspired to train as an NHS volunteer responder during the pandemic to help others after he credited them with saving his life.