TO HER children, Helen King is a mum in a million.

Now she could be named the city’s Parent Of The Year in The Press’s Community Pride Awards after being nominated by her three proud daughters.

The awards – held in conjunction with City of York Council – are a celebration of those special individuals and groups whose selfless work marks them as heroes of the places in which we live and work.

Daughters Emily, 13, and twins Holly and Maisie, ten, feel their mum richly deserves some recognition for all her hard work. When Emily was two, Helen went into hospital to give birth to Holly and Maisie, while she had a splint on her leg from a knee operation.

The twins were born ten weeks prematurely, and Helen managed to cope with running between hospital and home looking after her three daughters, while simultaneously trying to move house. Emily has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and believes her mum has helped her through.

“When I was diagnosed, it was a shock to us all, but mum kept it together for us all and has been my greatest advisor,” she said. “If anything went wrong it was always mum who sorted it out.”

She said: “She has been absolutely marvellous and when I was going away with Guides to Switzerland she had made endless lists for them and me, sorted out my insulin and needles and made sure there was enough of everything for me to have a great holiday.

“During the two years that I have had diabetes she has made sure that I have a good stock of everything from insulin, needles, blood testing equipment and monitors, even down to glucose tablets. Even when I forget to check if I have something, perhaps when I am staying with a friend, she will drive home again and get it for me without a word of complaint.

“She is so supportive to me and I really don’t know what I would do without her.”

Helen, from Bishopthorpe, York, said she was “stunned” by the nomination. She added: “My children are wonderful to me, the best things in my life. That is why I do everything for them, they are such wonderful kids.”

To nominate an unsung hero from your community simply fill out the entry form. We have awards for brilliant teachers, brave children and fantastic fundraisers and volunteers, as well as the York Community Pride Person Of The Year.

The winners of each category are unveiled at a ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

Send us a (non-returnable) picture of your nominee, plus any other information, to Community Pride Awards, Paula Homer, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or email us at editor@thepress.co.uk