14-year-old Charlie Bright of Sighthill, Edinburgh, has nominated Dad, Colin, in a national competition that asks families to name unsung heroes who’ve gone above and beyond for them in lockdown.
Colin Bright, who works as a receptionist at the Sighthill Health Centre and recently celebrated 30 years of continuous service in the NHS, has been nominated by his son, Charlie, in a national competition run by heating systems manufacturer, Viessmann.
Charlie wants to say thank you to his Dad for helping to look after him and his mum by working longer hours throughout lockdown and helping mum, Tracey, who has a long-term hearing impairment.
Colin has also taken on helping Charlie with his homework since lockdown led to a nationwide closure of schools as part of plans by the government to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
“I’ve been trying to do homework, but it’s not easy as I don’t have a teacher in front of me to help and my mum has tried her best and my dad has too,” says Charlie, 14.
Tracey has struggled with the effects of the lockdown and has felt rather lonely. With the recent government ruling enforcing masks in all shops, cinemas, galleries, banks, museums and places of worship, Tracey now feels nervous about going to the shops without Colin as she relies on lip-reading to speak with others.
“I tend to stay at home as much as possible as the wearing of face masks has left me really stressed out due to not enough awareness of the sunflower lanyard for hidden disabilities,” says Tracey.
“I have, a few times, had to explain myself to shop store staff as they have been asking me questions and I can’t see their face if they have a mask on! It feels rather embarrassing as I don’t like having to explain myself.
“After a few situations, I gave up going, so now Colin has an extra job to do and go to shops when he gets home from work or at the weekend.”
Colin, 50, works in Sighthill Health Centre in the treatment rooms and has been having to balance longer hours whilst continuing to support the family and his son with his work.
“My dad’s work is getting busier with patients as the doctors are seeing more and more people. He works on the reception desk booking patients appointments and checking them in when they arrive. He always comes home very tired as it can be a very busy long day trying to help people.”
Viessmann’s Nation’s Warmest Appreciation competition is designed to help children and families show appreciation to others’ good deeds during the first half of 2020.
“This has been a tough year for many of us, each facing our own challenges thanks to the unprecedented fallout the pandemic has brought, says James Harper, Marketing Manager at Viessmann.
“As a family-owned company that has pulled out all the stops to take care of its own members around the world over the past few months, Viessmann wanted to focus on all the good that has been going on around us all and how these times have also brought us all closer together.
“Gratitude is timeless, and because of this, we wanted to be able to help show off all the good deeds and kind acts our nation has been up to during the last six months. And by also recognising that there are still many other charities and causes that are in need of extra funding and support right now, it makes perfect sense to donate a part of the prize to those causes too.”
To enter, anyone between the age of 5-14 was invited to show their appreciation with a drawing, picture, poem or story showing who they were nominating and why they wanted to nominate them.
“I would love to nominate my Dad for all his hard work during these tough times and allowing me and Mum to stay safe at home, he is my real hero!” said Colin in his entry submission.
Entries for the competition are open until the 22nd August, with the final prize being £100 vouchers to both the entrant and nominated person and a £100 donation to a charity of their choice.
For more information and for your chance to enter, please visit the Viessmann site here.
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