Why we're calling on Leeds to help us celebrate our city's brilliant #healthheroes - Laura Collins, YEP Editor

This time last week, hundreds of thousands of people filled the air with the sound of applause.

It was a simple act.

But one that showed just how much our nation’s health service meant to so very many.

People stood on the balconies of their flats, opened their doors and windows to cheer and fireworks exploded into the night sky.

I’m sure you’ll agree that it was hard not to feel moved by the experience.

It truly felt like a triumph against adversity as that Blitz-time spirit came into action.

And, tonight, the organisers of #clapforourheroes are looking to recreate that exact same moment again at 8pm as a way of showing thanks.

Thank you is a simple phrase and often underused.

They are the doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners, administrators and many, many more who are making sure our extraordinary national health service can keep up with the increased demand as more people turn to it for help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They are also the incredible army of volunteers who have come forward to offer their help at this time of national emergency.

But these workers aren’t just statistics.

They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives who are making the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

For many, they haven’t been able to see their own loved ones during this time for support when they need it the most.

Superheroes don’t always wear capes.

And that is why we want to recognise their brave efforts - but we need you, our readers, to help us.

We want to hear from you about your friends, families and neighbours who are serving our NHS and country.

And we’re also asking you to flood our social media channels with messages of support to remind them just how very much they mean to us at this challenging time.

They are quite simply our #healthheroes.

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A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty. So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes- from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor