Happy 72nd Birthday to the NHS!
We mark an extraordinary year for our National Health Service.
After the most challenging year in NHS history, the health service is celebrating its 72nd birthday.
The 5th July is a particularly special date in the Greater Manchester calendar, with Trafford General being the first NHS hospital in the country; opened in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan.
NHS England has described this year's celebration as "an opportunity to recognise the skills, commitment, achievements, compassion and diversity of the 1.9 million staff working across more than 350 different professions."
Over the last few months, NHS employees have worked tirelessly to fight the COVID-19 pandemic - caring for 100,000 patients with the illness who required specialist treatment in hopsital. The crisis has also seen former doctors, nurses and other health service staff come out of retirement to help battle coronavirus, while windows in houses across the country have been filled with rainbow drawings and paintings in recognition of the NHS's work.
"It’s been the most challenging year in the history of the NHS and staff from across the health service have pulled out the stops like never before to deliver extraordinary care. From the domestic workers on the COVID-19 wards who have worked tirelessly to keep hospitals clean, to medical students heading the call for 111 call handlers and IT professionals working around the clock to keep services running, the NHS has mobilised to tackle this once in a lifetime global pandemic."
#### Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive, NHS England and NHS Improvement
A "72 for 72" fundraising campaign is running throughout July to raise money for ten hospitals in Greater Manchester.
It's aimed at inspiring people to choose a challenge that suits them around the theme of the birthday - to run 72K, hop for 72 minutes, do 72 star jumps or raise £720.
Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osbourne in Hollyoaks, is taking part by running an ultra marathon and hoping to raise £7,200.
His character on the soap has been suffering with mental health issues and therefore the money raised will go towards Galaxy House, a mental health inpatient unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, of which he's a patron.
“What Darren has been going through has been awful - I can’t even imagine what that would be like for someone of a younger age,” explained Ashley.
“Learning about mental health more through Darren has really made me start to realise that we just don’t talk about this enough. Mental health should be something we’re openly discussing from an early age.
He said: “Everyone is going through a particularly hard time right now. So now more than ever it’s important that we look at the issue and how we can all get better education around mental health issues. I honestly believe that means this should start in schools. Normalise it while we’re young and we will grow up knowing it’s perfectly fine to seek help.
“Since the lockdown I’ve found that running has helped me clear my mind when days have been hard and given me the clarity of mind to focus my passion and energy in the right direction.
“I wanted to do something to help raise more awareness for mental health and of course support the incredible Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
“I’ve always been pretty gung-ho about making decisions. In my head I just thought if I’m going to spend that many hours running anyway, instead of doing a marathon why not just do an Ultramarathon. Yes, I know... think before you open your mouth Ash! DOH! But I’m doing it now and that’s that!"
You can donate to support Ashley's charity run here:
At 5pm tonight the country will come together to applaud the commitment, courage and sacrifice shown by so many NHS workers.