#TellThemNow Father's Day video inspired by B.C. woman's yearning for a father
#TellThemNow campaign is urging people to call their dad and tell him why they're thankful for him
A Father's Day video created by a Vancouver company is going viral online, with hundreds of thousands of people watching children and their fathers expressing why they're thankful for each other.
The three-minute video shows several fathers face to face with their sons and daughters, who ask what makes their dad proud of them. One father simply answers "just about everything you do."
With emotions welling up between both fathers, daughters and sons, the role is then reversed.
"Dad I'm grateful because we didn't know how long you were going to be with us and we're so happy that you're still here," says one daughter, holding back tears.
Inspired by real life story
The idea was sparked by the real life story of company founder and president Samantha Reynolds, whose father wasn't around when she was growing up.
Reynolds said when she saw her own husband Pete McCormick with her one-year-old daughter, she began to wonder what she may have missed.
"I began to see that dads bring something totally different to their kids. I suddenly saw all my great male friends as magical fathers."
'I was touched and amazed'
Her husband produced and directed the video.
"I was touched and amazed by how we all yearn to be recognized, heard, celebrated and appreciated," said McCormick.
"The truth is that there is a deep desire in a child of any age — and ours were from three to 56 — to hear their parent speak of them with pride. How we secretly, quietly long for that. We might not even know it."
Monica Murray, vice-president of client relations for the company said the message goes beyond just Father's Day, adding that the #TellThemNow campaign should be all year round.
"This whole concept of taking that opportunity to really be grateful and tell those people around you what you love about them...I think it really hits home."