The world's best known PE teacher Joe Wicks has raised £200,000 (€227,000) for the UK's National Health Service and praised his treatment in hospital by people from all over the world including Ireland.
The fitness coach, whose fitness classes every morning on YouTube have become a regular for lockdown children, was speaking on British television after returning home from hospital following surgery on his hand due to a bike fall.
The 33-year-old told Good Morning Britain co-hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard: "I was laying in there on Friday night and Saturday night, and all of Sunday. I was treated by someone from Scotland, Ireland, Iran, Jamaica, Philippines, Sri Lanka and I thought 'What an amazing place.'
"The NHS isn't just a service. It's a community of people who are out there helping other people.
“It doesn’t matter if you walk into that hospital the richest man on earth or the poorest man in town — they love you, they take care of you, they make you feel safe.
“For that, I am eternally grateful. It was the first time ever I had a true experience of gratitude, and that’s why I want to say a massive dedication today, because the NHS is a wonderful thing.
“I am proud to announce we have raised £200,000 for the NHS Charities Together.” NHS Charities Together supports staff and volunteers working on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK.
Wicks appeared with his wife Rosie, who is hosting his PE classes on YouTube while he recovers.
She said: “I want to make it clear that I am not taking his place. I am just demonstrating the exercises. He is still going to be taking the class. I am just doing whatever he tells me to do.
“I had a baby like four months ago so I have had a bit of a break (from exercise), but now I have got back into it. I will either do Joe’s videos or sometimes we will work out together.”
Wicks added: “I’m really proud of her. She is really out of her comfort zone.
“She has not done anything like this before, to do a live workout to probably millions of people. I am so proud and I love you so much for it, darling.”
The couple tied the knot in June last year having been engaged since November 2018.