A nurse who delivered the world's first coronavirus vaccine is backing a campaign to thank all the people who worked hard during the coronavirus pandemic to help each other and protect the country.
May Parsons, a matron at University Hospital Coventry, is part of a group of people calling for a national Thank You Day on July 4.
The nurse, who administered a Covid-19 vaccine to 91-year-old Margaret Keenan on December 8, 2020, said Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on many people, but has also brought us close to each other.
Ms Parsons says it is important to thank all the people - including teachers, family members, key workers and neighbours - for what they have done during the pandemic.
Visit the website for the Thank You Day campaign here
She said: “Thank You Day gives me the opportunity to thank all my amazing colleagues working in the NHS and social care.
"This has been the toughest year of our professional careers, and you have all worked so hard to treat all the sick patients who came through our doors, while delivering the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in NHS history.
"I also want to thank the incredible volunteers who gave up their time to support us, and those in their communities who needed help. I am so grateful to all the people who kept us going: the school teams who looked after our children, shop staff, transport and delivery workers, and everyone else who has helped keep us and the country going.
"We couldn’t have done it without you. I am incredibly proud of our staff and our volunteers, and I want to encourage everyone to embrace Thank You Day and to take part in any way that you can.”
The campaign to establish a Thank You Day on July 4 has received widespread support.
It calls on people to mark the day by getting together with their neighbours, friends and family and joining in a huge nationwide thank-you.
There are also plans to arrange special park runs and raising a glass or cup of tea to say "Cheers for Volunteers" at 5pm.
Julie Siddiqi, a community worker from Slough and another of the day’s proposers, said: “We’re all looking forward to the end of restrictions but that doesn’t mean we all go back to ‘normal’.
"We can look forward to doing some things better than we did before. And we can start by saying a heartfelt thanks to each other and staying connected with our neighbours.”
The campaign has also been backed by national organisations including the Scouts, Girlguiding, Royal Voluntary Service, the FA and the Together Coalition.
The event follows the huge public support for the Health Service on its 72nd anniversary over the same weekend last year.
Catherine Johnstone, CBE, Chief Executive at Royal Voluntary Service said: “Throughout what has been an incredibly difficult year, we have been fortunate enough to have seen the best of human kindness.
“Across the country, people have come together to support their communities in remarkable ways and these people deserve our heartfelt thanks.
"We are very proud to be supporting ‘Thank You Day’ on July 4 which will give us all an opportunity to show our gratitude to those who have gone above and beyond to help the country through the pandemic.
"It is fantastic that volunteers will be recognised during the day, as across the country, both nationally and locally, they have been pivotal in supporting our communities and the NHS. I look forward to seeing everyone on July 4 for a well-deserved day of thanks.”
In a video released for the launch of the campaign, well-known figures have been saying who they want to thank.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, 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 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.”
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, said: “I’ll be saying a huge thank you to my family and to our incredible scout volunteers.”
Eriona Mehmeti, who is leading the campaign in London, said: "I’ve seen first-hand how many ordinary people have been doing extraordinary things to help their friends and neighbours.
"I want to thank everyone who’s been there for a young person when they needed that boost, and every neighbour who’s gone that extra mile to make life a little bit easier.”
Sandra McCabe, who is running the campaign in Belfast, said she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received following a family bereavement and challenges posed to her business by the pandemic.
Despite the challenges, she maintains a positive outlook, saying: “I have lots of people to thank and a lot to be thankful for.”
A spokesperson for the Together coalition said: “A national Thank You Day gives us all a chance to mark the end of this phase of the crisis and say thank you to everyone who helped us through.
“So many of us want that chance. But it also gives us an opportunity to look forward, to help remind us what matters and how we want to stay connected to each other in the future.”
