INSPIRATIONAL people who help to make York a better place enjoyed their moment in the spotlight last night as the winners of The Press Community Pride Awards were announced.

Guests gathered at York Racecourse for a celebration dinner to honour the city’s devoted, selfless and brave unsung heroes who have touched so many with their incredible stories.

ITV presenter Kate Walby compered the tenth annual awards ceremony.

One of the most moving moments came when Oscar Hughes, Ruby Holding and Edie Palmer were all announced as winners of the Child Of The Year accolade after judges found it too difficult to single one out.

Joel Malyon, a brave seven-year-old from Dringhouses who died after suffering complications following a transplant, was also a winner of the category.

Steve Hughes, managing editor of The Press, said: “We’re here tonight to celebrate the fantastic work being done in this city by unsung heroes from all walks of life. They include youngsters and adults, parents and children, volunteers and charity fundraisers, teachers, health, police and council workers, whose efforts make York a better place.”

The Spirit Of Youth title went to a group of teenagers from Joseph Rowntree School. Molly Horner, Lucy Freer, Megan Guest and Alison Coates launched a body confidence campaign challenging shopkeepers to promote positive body confidence and replace images of airbrushed models with unaltered pictures of customers within their stores.

Inspirational teen Sianagh Gallagher took the Sporting Hero title. Sianagh, who was born very prematurely with medical problems including a curved spine and no left arm, has defied the odds to become a para climbing champion.

The Person Of The Year was Brian Hughes, who has set up some of the most important sporting events and groups in York, and started the R U Taking The P event for prostate cancer research among many other achievements.

Ellie Hodge, a chemotherapy nurse at York Hospital, took the Health Service Hero award after judges heard from two former patients, since given the all-clear, who described her as a kind and thoughtful healthcare professional credited with making a sometimes unbearable time in life bearable.

A significant achievement award went to John and Vicky Inglis, whose seven-year-old son Jamie died in January after twice fighting the childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

The couple fought for their son to have potentially life-saving treatment which was unavailable on the NHS. They have carried out fundraising and offer support to other families with neuroblastoma.

The Community Pride Awards are held in partnership with City of York Council and are sponsored by Benenden Health.

Don’t miss our Communty Pride Awards souvenir supplement in The Press newspaper on Tuesday.

York Press: Community Pride winners 2013