Peterborough fundraiser shortlisted in Pride of Britain Awards judging

Peterborough fundraiser Maggie Mooney has been shortlisted in the prestigious Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards 2020.
Maggie Mooney at a cheque presentation at Addenbrooke's in 2019Maggie Mooney at a cheque presentation at Addenbrooke's in 2019
Maggie Mooney at a cheque presentation at Addenbrooke's in 2019

The awards take place annually to celebrate the achievements of unsung heroes that have made a difference in their communities.

The categories include Outstanding Bravery, Emergency Service award and Fundraiser of the Year.

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They are sponsored by the Daily Mirror and usually take place at Grosvenor House, London in October.

The exact date of this year’s event is yet to be confirmed but it will be broadcast on ITV the following week.

As part of the 2020 awards, ITV is looking for fundraisers in each of their regions to put forward for the main Pride of Britain fundraiser award.

Maggie is one of those, along with three others, that have made it onto the shortlist for the Anglia West region, with the winner being announced on Friday.

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She said: “I was totally surprised to find out I’d been shortlisted.

“I didn’t expect it at all but it’s nice to think somebody took the time to think about me and do the nomination.

“I don’t do it for this kind of thing, I just want to help others but it’s a nice surprise.”

Maggie, who lives in Werrington, has been raising money for the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust since 2011.

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That was the year when she was given a liver transplant at the hospital in Cambridge after suffering with liver failure.

Doctors still don’t know what caused it, but she required a transplant to survive and received her new organ the day before her life support was due to be switched off in May.

Just seven months later, she held her first annual fundraising ball at Peterborough United’s stadium and she has done so ever since, raising over £75,000.

This money has gone towards helping the hospital’s transplant unit, as well as medical research.

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One of the other important developments it has also helped to fund is a Liver Perfusion machine at Addenbrooke’s.

The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate itself and with the help of a perfusion machine, it can be injected with blood, once outside the body of the donor, to regenerate it ready for transplanting into the recipient.

Maggie added: “The medical research is really important to me. The doctors still know very little about what happened to me and if it could affect others in my family. If, god forbid, that did happen my hope is that the research will have progressed to a point they can get better treatment.

“Raising awareness is also really important to removing the stigma that all liver problems are due to the person being an alcoholic. That was a big fear of mine, at first, I didn’t want to leave the house for fear of what people might think.

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“This year was due to be our 10th ball and we were planning on a Great Gatsby theme but that will have to wait until next year. We are hoping to do something small such as a raffle though and anything we raise will still help to make a difference.

“The support I have had throughout it all has been great. Local businesses have been really generous and my friend Sheridan is an absolute star. The ball takes about six months to organise and she does a lot of it. My family too are a great support, my husband Ian and children Sacha, Misha and Ross.”

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