Honoring Healthcare Heroes: Athletes Dedicate Jerseys to Those on COVID-19 Front Lines

Courtesy of 72andSunny
Courtesy of 72andSunny

To celebrate the dedicated healthcare workers on the front lines of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 14 professional sports leagues including the Women's Tennis Association, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and MLB are participating in a campaign called The Real Heroes Project. There's no denying that these workers are real-life heroes every day and especially during this time, so athletes are dedicating their jerseys to medical professionals. To show appreciation, athletes are replacing their names on those uniforms with the names of, for instance, nurses and doctors they know.

Fittingly, the campaign launched on May 6, which is National Nurses Day. Participating athletes include tennis stars Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Bianca Andreescu; two-time World Cup and Olympic champion Carli Lloyd; 2018 WNBA Most Valuable Player Breanna Stewart; and four-time WNBA All-Star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Ahead, watch a touching tribute from all of these athletes to healthcare workers sacrificing their safety on the front lines of this pandemic. The video, set to Beyoncé's "Halo," was made with the help of creative agency 72andSunny. You'll also find individual tributes from big-name athletes.

"I hope that recognition will last beyond the pandemic," Diggins-Smith told Adweek. "I hope we honor them every day. We have to give people their flowers while they are with us."

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#TheRealHeroes Campaign Video Set to Beyoncé's "Halo"

Watch as these pro athletes give their healthcare heroes a well-deserved standing ovation.

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Carli Lloyd Honors Henry Snyder

Lloyd says of honoree Henry Snyder, "He's usually a pediatric intensive care nurse, but he's working fulltime in adult COVID units."

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Skylar Diggins-Smith Honors Nichole Freeman

Diggins-Smith is honoring Nichole Freeman. "Your commitment, your dedication, and your passion to your patients and for your patients' health does not go unnoticed," she said.

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Naomi Osaka Honors Dr. Shamsah Amersi

Osaka is honoring Shamsah Amersi, who is helping deliver babies during this difficult time and also organizing food drives.

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Breanna Stewart Honors Sherry Williams

Stewart honors Sherry Williams. She assures Williams that healthcare workers may be on the front lines, but "we're right behind you."

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Bianca Andreescu Honors Melissa MacQueen

Of Melissa MacQueen, Andreescu said, "You work tireless hours, you work super hard. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

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Coco Gauff Honors Kendra Thaddies

Gauff honors registered nurse Kendra Thaddies, whom she calls "Auntie Kim." You can check out more of these tribute videos on The Real Heroes Project YouTube channel and search #TheRealHeroes on social media to find others participating in this campaign. Thank you for your service, healthcare heroes!