Care UK care home manager publicly thanked along the route of the Great North Run

Louise Damms, the manager of Care UK’s Cheviot Court care home in South Shields, was selected of one of 13 people to be thanked in a very public way along the course of last weekend’s Great North Run.

Louise was selected by the organisers as one of 13 inspirational individuals who went above and beyond to support their community during the pandemic.

A billboard bearing her image was positioned along the course of the Great North Run – one of 13 giving the region a chance to say a huge Thank You to all the key workers who have supported us over the last 18 months.

Additionally, a video showing Louise talking about her experiences was shown to the tens of thousands of people who were in the Newcastle area on Sunday – either taking part of watching. The famous race was shown on TV channels in 127 countries across the world and internationally known athletes will have seen the billboards which served as mile markers.

Commenting on being selected, Louise said: “I am a little bit embarrassed at all this publicity around me. It is my team, the residents of Cheviot Court and their relatives who should be thanked – they have been incredible since day one of the pandemic with their hard work, support and resilience. It was very strange catching a glimpse of my face on a huge billboard when I tuned in to the BBC coverage just after nine in the morning.”

Louise’s Regional Director Sam Rogan said: “Throughout the pandemic Louise has been under huge pressure. She has suffered emotionally but has remained strong for the sake of her team. She has shown no weakness because she did not want that to rub off on those around her but I know she had tough days. The pressures on care homes, their team members, residents and their families, caused by the pandemic are well-documented. Louise addressed those pressures by taking an already strong community and developing it to be even stronger and I offer her my congratulation on this well-deserved recognition. “