Since the launch of The Big Thank You campaign in December, people from across Leeds have said thanks to their friends, family, neighbours and even strangers for something they have done over winter.
From NHS staff to bus drivers, The Big Thank You campaign has shown that despite the cold and dark winter months, there are always people to be thankful for and things to feel positive about.
With 831 ‘Big Thank You’s already submitted on the website, the momentum continues to grow and the positivity continues to spread. As well as thank yous, many people have also been inspired to pledge to be a Winter Hero, by promising to do small things to help keep themselves and others happy and healthy during winter.
Along with coverage from local and regional press such as the Yorkshire Evening Post, we’ve been busy promoting the campaign on the ground, armed with a purple Big Thank You postbox and stories of our own Winter Heroes. We’ve so far made appearances at Kirkgate Market, Chapel Allerton and St James’s hospitals, not to forget a whole host of local community centres.
Saying a Big Thank You to staff at the Neurology Department, Munizah praised his doctors’ ongoing ‘care and support’ since his very first operation six years ago.
Other ‘Thank You’s praised Winter Heroes for their community work, such as Deirdre in Meanwood who thanked Irish Health and Homes for cooking hot and healthy dinners whatever the weather.
Some thanked random acts of kindness from strangers, such as Chris from Hyde Park who would have been helpless without the help of one passer-by who located his missing keys! In a Big Thank You to the unknown hero of Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park, Chris thanked her for using her detective skills to come to his rescue.
With such a wide range of Thank Yous for all kinds of reasons, it’s clear that no number of grim and gloomy winter mornings will dampen our communities’ spirit.
The campaign will run until the end of March and we can’t wait to see where our quest for thank yous will take us next…
To say your Big Thank You, click here.
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