They're on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.
And we want to do our bit for them.
Many of us have loved ones working in the NHS. Be they cleaners, radiographers, nurses, porters, doctors, midwives, or any one of the many vital roles in our hospitals or primary care services, we watch them go to work or hear their stories after they come home from another long day.
At Chronicle Live, we're celebrating the NHS workers across our region with our 'Thanks a Million NHS map', lighting up the whole of the UK with love for our healthcare workers.
But we also wanted to make things a bit more personal.
We're asking you to tell us about the people in your life who are doing their bit in this crisis. Perhaps your son or daughter is a nurse; your partner is a paramedic; your best friend works in the vital admin departments which keep our hospitals running.
Or maybe you're working for the health service yourself and want to highlight a dedicated colleague or a team that is going above and beyond at the difficult time. All we need is a picture of them, and a little information: their first name, what job they do and where, and a few words from you about exactly why you're so proud of them.
We'll set up a dedicated page to share your stories and your thanks. We hope you'll join in by sending in your nominations for NHS heroes, and by sharing this on social media with the hashtag #NHSheroes. Why not tag the people you're proud of and encourage others to join in?
Comment below, on social media, or by emailing hannah.graham@reachplc.com.
It's about thanking those who are working so hard for us - but it's also about highlighting the real people who are affected by this crisis.
We hope that by sharing the faces of our brilliant NHS workers, we'll help encourage people to follow the social distancing rules that will stop them from being overwhelmed by new cases of Covid-19.
Watching people we love head off to work each day to tackle this crisis can be scary. As their friends and family, we might not be able to help them do their jobs - but we can encourage everyone to follow the rules and stay at home to keep our loved ones safe.
And we know your support won't go unappreciated. We've been speaking with bosses at the North East's NHS trusts and they say their hardworking staff appreciate your support as they work through a situation that is like nothing any of us have ever known before.
Sue Jacques, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive, told us: “Across the NHS, teams are working as they always do, to ensure we’re prepared and can give patients the care they need.
"This is an unprecedented situation and, like everyone else, our staff are understandably worried about their own health and that of their families and friends. Despite this, they’re working hard, showing great flexibility and resourcefulness. I am enormously proud of them.”
