Community Pride: Inspirational mums are wonder women (From York Press)

Community Pride: Inspirational mums are wonder women

8:25am Wednesday 1st August 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

AN inspirational mum who devotes her time to helping other people has been nominated for a Community Pride award.

Barbara Anderson, 58, of St Stephens Road, has been put forward in the Parent Of The Year category for her devotion to her family and to others.

While working as the landlady of The White Rose pub, in Cornlands Road, Mrs Anderson cared for her customers, two of which were suffering from cancer.

She took them to medical appointments and made home visits.

She has brought up her grandson and taken custody of her nephew, whose mum died, and is supporting him through a difficult time and encouraging him to go to college.

Mrs Anderson has also been a Safe and Sound Homes (SaSH) host for eight years, caring for vulnerable and difficult teenagers in her own home and has also dealt with her own medical problems.

Barbara’s daughter Shelli Harkus said: “She has always worked full time and brought her family up on her own.

“She is always there for me and my sister and her grandchildren, who are so proud that she is their nanna.

“All those around her wonder how she does it, but she does. I am so proud she is my mum-in-a-million and I don’t know what we would do without her. We all have sheer admiration for her and I would really like her to be recognised for everything she does.”

• Another nomination for parent of the year has come in for Elaine Thornton, of Hull Road, who selflessly looks after her children, grandson and parents. Even when diagnosed with cancer she continued to look after her family and tried to shield them from her illness.

Her daughter, Chantel Thorton, said in the nomination: “I couldn’t live without my mum in my life.

“She holds us all together and I’d like her to know that we do care and I love her more than anything.”

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