Big smiles at Pride in Peterborough awards

There were joint winners in the Healthcare Professional/Carer of the Year category.

Jo Hazell, manager of day services at Thorpe Hall Hospice is celebrating 25 years of working at the Sue Ryder hospice. Jo is a nurse and since 2000 has managed Thorpe Hall’s day services. Jo’s family experience with dementia has seen her become a vocal advocate for those living with the condition and has helped shape Thorpe Hall’s own dementia services. Three years ago, Jo launched the Synergy Cafe, held weekly at Thorpe Hall.

The other winner in the carer category was Dorothy Paling for her support of Young Achiever finalist Victoria King.

The Caring Neighbour Award was won by Nurun Ahmed, who took part in BBC’s The Apprentice show in 2014, for her incredible support for a grieving family.

Ali Qasemi, aged 45, was delivering pizzas when he was attacked in Woodston on May 8. Ali was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital but sadly died a few days later leaving behind his wife, two young children and an unborn child. Nurun set up a fundraising campaign to help the family which raised in excess of £3,000 in just one week. Nurun said: “I was deeply taken aback by the news especially in hearing that Ali has left behind two young children and a pregnant wife. I initially wanted to raise £500 which has now been surpassed and the support for the campaign has been overwhelming.”

Highly commended was Will Frankgate and the staff and regulars at the Blue Bell pub in Glinton.

They staged a collection to look after one of their regulars Win Vine, aged 101, who visits the publ twice a week and was the victim of a conman. Win had £400 stolen from her Northborough home and Will, landlord of the Blue Bell, raised £400 within 10-15 minutes of starting the whipround.

The Community Spirit Award was won by Carole Collier. Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and was successfully operated on in 2015. Despite this operation Carol continued with organising a Strictly Style event for NSPCC Peterborough Business Support Group and even delayed her radiotherapy treatment by a few days to ensure the success of the event which raised over £23,000 for the charity. She supported other NSPCC events throughout the year.

In addition Strictly Razzamatazz with guests Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag raised a further £25,000 for the charity.

Highly commended was Tash Applegate who runs a number of different football clubs and sessions in the local community. She puts extra dedication into the disabilty football teams around Peterborough.

Also highly commended was Linda Dalton one of the original Thorpe Hall volunteers. In between working, bringing up a family and supporting husband Tony’s regular athletic challenges, Linda became an indispensable part of the Thorpe Hall team – a position she maintains to this day 25 years later.

David Evans was highly commended after being nominated by his son David who said: “My father served nearly 50 years in the Royal Air Force without ever seeking recognition. He’s as proud today putting on his uniform as he was when he joined. He’s a great example to others, he entered as a junior and worked his way up the ranks, became an officer and is now a Wing Commander. Nowadays he looks after the Air Cadet Flying Squadrons where he believes in supporting today’s youth.”

Crowland stalwart David Ringham was highly commended for his work in the community. He has been involved with community groups and organisations in the Peterborough area and Crowland.

Colin Slater was highly commended after he started an annual, local event raising funds for Help for Heroes in 2009 and over the last eight years has raised over £35,000.

Kieran Steels, also known by his stage name of Skilly Skillz, was highly commended for his work as is an Artistic Human Percussionist (Human Beatboxer), Mentor/ Community Project Coordinator .

The Outstanding Act of Bravery Award went to Samantha Walker aged 28. Samantha has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and also won a Pride in Peterborough Award in 2013 after raising funds to transform a house so that a little boy with leukaemia could spend his final months at home.

But in January 2015 she was placed in a coma for four weeks after suffering a pulmonary embolism - a blockage in the pulmonary artery - which saw her resuscitated twice at Peterborough City Hospital. Her reward for surviving this ordeal was to see her baby Isabelle take her first steps and to see her daughter Lillie go to school for the first time.

Samantha also has a son William and says that she feels blessed to be able to see and be part of special moments with all her children and cherishes every one as life can be so short. Samantha, who is now fighting for her life for the second time in a year hopes that the tumour on her artery can be shrunk then removed so that she can take her three children to Disneyland Paris next year.

Highly commended was Aneliese Owens who was also nominated in the Child of Courage category.

The Senior Citizen Award was won by David Evans with David Ringham Highly Commended - both of who were nominated in other categories.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was won by David Ringham for his work in the community in Crowland.

In particular he works with Crowland Lions where his involvement has helped raise £50,000 over the years.

The Crowland Youth Club, formed by David, run by volunteers and has been operating for 15 years.

David is the chairman of the Crowland Cares charity. More recently, David has formed a knitters and natterers group for older ladies to meet and knit. He has also started the Reminisce Group helping people with dementia as well as working on the the Crowland Neighbourhood Panel and Crowland Parish Council.

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The Lifetime Achievment Award finalists on stage.

The Community Spirit award presentation.

The Young Achiever presentation.

The Family of the Year presentation.

Pride in Peterborough 2016

Headline Sponsor – BGL GROUP

Category sponsors:BGL Group, Coloplast, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Cross Keys Homes

Luminus Group, Peterborough Garden Park, Queensgate, Wiltshire Farm Foods.

Our Finalists -

l Young Achiever: Leo Waites.Highly Commended: Aimie Garner and Victoria King

l Child of Courage: Rico Dunworth. Highly commended Anneliese Owens.

l Healthcare Professional/carer of the Year: Joint winners: Jo Hazell and Dorothy Paling.

l Caring Neighbour: Nurun Ahmed. Highly Commended: Will Frankgate and the Bluebell.

l Family of the Year: The Dunworth family. Highly commended: Cecilia and Neil Hammond, Dorothy Paling and Victoria King.

l Community Spirit: Carol Collier. Highly commended: Tash Applegate, Linda Dalton, David Evans, David Ringham, Colin Slater, Kieran Steels.

l Oustanding Act of Bravery:

Samantha Walker. Highly Commended: Anneliese Owens.

l Senior Citizen Award:

David Evans. Highly commended: David Ringham.

l Lifetime Achievement Award: David Ringham. Highly Commended: Carol Collier, Colin Slater, Jane Knott.