Community Pride awards: Kelly and Holly a terrific team (From York Press)

Kelly Cronin nominated for Community Pride award

8:50am Friday 13th July 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

A WOMAN who has notched up some remarkable achievements with the support of her guide dog has been nominated for a Community Pride award.

Kelly Cronin, 23, of Huntington, who is almost blind due to a deteriorating eye condition, achieved outstanding A-levels at Huntington School, worked in York, travelled in Australia and has taken the first steps to becoming a barrister by taking a law degree in Leeds, helped by her dog, Holly.

Kelly is also due to climb the Yorkshire three peaks this weekend to help fundraise for the training of a guide dog to help another blind or partially-sighted person have greater independence.

Nominating Kelly as person of the year, Rebekah Shepherd, of Guide Dogs, said many people felt she was a truly deserving candidate.

“Kelly has achieved so much, and continues to be passionate about all that comes her way. She is an absolute pleasure to know and work with, and is well liked and respected by everyone who meets her.”

Kelly also volunteers with guide dogs, speaks on behalf of the charity and took on the role of branch chairman for York. She is among many nominations to celebrate the city’s unsung heroes to have been recently received by The Press.

Other nominees include Josephine Smith, head of nursing at Haxby and Wigginton Health Centre, who works “unstintingly” to develop the skills and support her team of nurses.

She was put forward for the health service hero award by the managing partner at the centre, John McEvoy, who said: “Jo is an excellent team member.

Jo is excellent with patients, but her managerial duties dominate and this award would be proper recognition that the frontline service could not take care of its patients to the standard that it does without Jo and the outstanding and dedicated way that she performs in her role.”

Nominated as teacher of the year is a mentor who has helped children and young people develop confidence and a sense of well-being through yoga.

Former professional dancer Hayley Del Sanderson, of South Bank, decided to start running affordable yoga lessons to a wide range of people after realising yoga was only available to people from affluent backgrounds.

She works with a wide variety of groups including adults recovering from mental ill-health at York Mind, youngsters at city schools and York City FC.

Among many testimonials, one family said: “She is an inspiration for all of us.”

Meanwhile, Wilkinsons in Clifton Moor have been nominated for the service with a smile award by customer Sylvia Dunn.

She said: “Every time I go into this store, I am extremely impressed with the helpfulness, pleasantness and willingness of the staff. It would seem that nothing is too much trouble. I have always been totally satisfied with the staff and feel they need a pat on the back.”

The Community Pride Awards, featuring a York 800 theme this year, are sponsored by Benenden Healthcare and run in partnership with City of York Council.