Kath Martin

Said the following about Rail Enforcement Team -Great Northern Lily's Rainbow:

“Lily's Rainbow

So what started as a simple drawing by a three-year-old turned into so much more? Lily is the daughter of Rail Enforcement Officer Ben O'Day. Lily drew a rainbow for her window to show support for our NHS. We liked it so much we asked Lily to draw some for us. The team thought that others would also like a rainbow and so the idea began.

Lily could be the daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, or sister of any of us at an age blessed with innocence and no concept of the enormity of a global pandemic. She just wanted to be happy and see people smile. We did too, so we took the Rainbow to the Railway family and asked everyone to smile and share it and if they so wished, make a donation to NHS Charities (our chosen charity)

It gave the Team a focus and a purpose whilst at work during very strange, testing times and occupied their minds. It was taken around the networks from busy hubs to the lone worker at a remote station, someone who may not have interacted with anyone for hours. It soon caught on and thanks to the power of the railway family it began travelling the globe with some amazing people.

Lily's Rainbow reached Hospitals, Care Homes, Doctors, Nurses, Ambulance Crews, Police, platform staff, drivers, dispatchers, store workers, delivery drivers, Military, Football Clubs, and some Super- Heroes to name but a few. The Rainbow reached Paris, Ibiza, Hong Kong, USA, Lithuania, Bermuda, New Zealand, Australia, Falkland Islands, Saudi Arabia and around the UK.

It showed the dedicated, courageous frontline doctors, nurses, carers and staff we care. It showed we supported each other. It brought a smile to faces and even if for only five minutes, it brought people together (take a look)

https://twitter.com/lilys_rainbow

To some it was just a piece of paper but to most it was a way to unite and be part of something.

So yes, it has been more than just a Rainbow and with kind donations, food challenges, running challenges and selling items we raised a total of £1250 for NHS Charities.

https://twitter.com/lilys_rainbow

Tom Moran, MD, Thameslink and Great Northern said:

Lily's Rainbow was a beacon of hope and optimism during the very depths of lockdown. I loved the idea when Ben and Kath told me about it and it was fantastic to see the rainbow pop up everywhere, first across our network of stations and depots and then much much further afield. The whole effort was brilliant at raising spirits and funds and was an inspiring reminder of the role that the railway family played as key workers, keeping our country moving. I'm immensely proud of how our colleagues across Thameslink & Great Northern have responded to the challenge of COVID-19 and Lily's Rainbow is the perfect example of how they have gone above and beyond to support and inspire each other.“