A celebration of people who help make York such a special place to live is reaching its climax, as KATE LIPTROT reports.

MEET the finalists of our Community Pride Awards - the inspirational men, women and children who are York’s unsung heroes.

They have impressed judges with their extraordinary stories, and have now been invited to our awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

Nominations have poured in, and our judges have spent hours deliberating to choose finalists from each of the 13 categories.

We have received entries for charity workers, businesses, public sector staff, parents, teachers, children, health workers, sports people, teenagers, community organisations and schools - who have made an outstanding contribution to life in the city.

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

 

Spirit of Youth

Holly Scott-Gardner , 18, of Huntington , who has almost total vision loss, has been involved in various voluntary, charitable and sporting activities and has worked to raise awareness of what it is like to be a young person with a visual impairment.

Molly Barton , 17, of Tang Hall , was born 17 weeks prematurely. As a result she has a number of medical issues including visual impairment and chronic lung problems, but Molly has not let these hold her back and is hardworking and positive, determined to do well at school and be there for her family.

“Cheeky chappie” Alfie Barlow , 13, of Clifton , has been nominated for overcoming a mystery virus which left him unable to walk to persevere and go on to become skilled in martial arts and a role model to other pupils at Canon Lee School .

 

Public sector hero

Jean Harris , a personal advisor for young people, has been described as a “credit to the council” for her work, which has included helping to transform the fortunes of a young mum and her children.

Lesley Walker , who works with the traveller community to help provide accommodation and support, has been shortlisted for her humour and the great lengths she has gone to to forge good relationships.

And Norman Smith , 85, has been a caretaker at Haxby Road Primary School and previously Tang Hall Primary School for 30 years and is described as “always going the extra mile” to help. He is held in high esteem by parents, pupils and staff.

 

Charity Fundraiser

Harry Baines , 21, of Fulford , overcame cancer to undertake a 1000-mile bike ride in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and the automotive charity, BEN.

Julie Staveley and Angie Holland , of York Ambulance Service, helped raise almost £12,000 for a computer which reads eye movements to help close friend Sally Waudby, who was suffering from motor neurone disease, to communicate. Mrs Waudby asked for her friends to be nominated. She died earlier this year. The computer will be used to benefit others. 

Derrick Lund , 79, of Skeldergate, has raised £46,000 for York Blind & Partially Sighted Society. Mr Lund, who is disabled and was diagnosed with tunnel vision following a brain operation, has devoted about 20 years to fundraising for other blind and partially-sighted people as well as numerous charities.

 

Child of the Year

Lord Deramore’s Primary School pupil Jamie Inglis , six, is battling the childhood cancer neuroblastoma, which has seen him temporarily unable to walk due to a tumour, and undergoing radio and chemotherapy. He is awaiting treatment overseas and inspires others with his bravery and uncomplaining nature.

Eighteen-month-old Riley Plant , of Burnholme, has also shown incredible bravery, remaining happy and cheerful despite gruelling treatment after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in April.

Ava Gallan-tree , three, of Holgate , has had 44 double ear infections and has badly damaged hearing but has shown remarkable positivity and resilience while twins Juliet and Ella Taylor , four, of Tadcaster Road, supported one another when Juliet was diagnosed with a brain tumour and have since gone on to raise money for the hospital unit which saved her life.

 

Teacher of the Year

Adrian Mann , of St Oswald’s C of E Primary School, is known for helping pupils to achieve their potential, and is popular with pupils and parents and those who have left the Fulford school.

Hayley Del Sanderson , a qualified yoga teacher, of South Bank, is credited with bringing affordable yoga to a variety of people from children to adults recovering from mental ill-health to significantly boost confidence and wellbeing.

Jean Calverley , deputy head at Clifton Green Primary School , has been praised for teaching and inspiring generations of families in Clifton.

 

Volunteer of The Year

Violet Armitage , 90, of Tang Hall, has volunteered at the St Leonard’s Hospice shop in Tang Hall since it opened almost 20 years ago, donating stock and even bouncing back from pneumonia to return to her work.

John Horsley , 83, is an integral member of the community in Tang Hall, known for his weekly ward walks to pick up litter and address local issues, remaining upbeat and dedicated to the local environment despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Sue Lister , of Dunnington , is the energetic instigator of the York 50+ Festival in 2005, run on behalf of the York Older People’s Assembly, and for taking over the running of York International Women’s Week.

John Jeffery , known by many as ‘Mr Wigginton ’, 71, is president at Wigginton Grasshoppers football club which he founded 30 years ago, is a parish councillor and chairman of Wigginton Playing Fields Association.

 

Health Service Hero

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

Mary Clarke , epilepsy specialist at York Hospital , is known for her caring nature and for her tireless efforts to help patients manage their conditions to lead full lives.

Louise Rochester , deputy sister on the short-stay ward at York Hospital, is “wonderful” with patients, family and colleagues, always being there to help sort out problems and going to great lengths to support others.

 

Sporting Hero

Athletics coach Geoff Barraclough , of Acomb , whose grandson, Richard Buck, is in Great Britain’s Olympics team, has been involved in City of York Athletic Club for almost four decades, coaching generations of young runners.

Albert Pattison , of Strensall , the York Senior Cricket League managing secretary, has been nominated for his lifelong dedication to cricket in York and the region.

Shot-put star Scott Lincoln , 19, is known for his incredible hard work as a full-time builder while training five times a week with City of York Athletics Club.

 

Person Of The Year

Kelly Cronin , of Huntington, 23, who is almost blind due to a deteriorating eye condition, has made some outstanding and inspirational achievements - travelling Australia, taking the first steps to becoming a barrister as well as fundraising for others.

Graham Bradbury , 59, of Copmanthorpe , has been involved in raising an estimated £100,000 for charity through many events including the annual community carol concert and last year’s John Barry tribute concert.

Peter Lawrence , 65, of the Stockton Lane area, campaigns on behalf of the families of missing people. Following his daughter Claudia’s disappearance in 2009, Mr Lawrence has led a campaign for new legislation to make it easier for those dealing with a missing person’s estate.

John Horsley , Tang Hall, who is also a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category.

 

Parent of the Year

Kay Ford , of Fulford, has given remarkable support to her family, travelling up and down the country to care for her older sisters when they fell ill and helping when her daughter’s partner was involved in an accident.

Tonya O’ Hara , of Clifton, who is married to Jason, is mother to seven and step-mother to two. She works hard to support the children who live at home and her wider family, and travels back and forth to hospital in Sheffield with one of her children, who has learning problems and epilepsy.

Barbara Anderson , of Acomb, has been nominated for her devotion to her family and others - helping those who are ill and volunteering to care for vulnerable teens in her home.

 

Service With A Smile

Chok Dee Academy , of York Business Park in Poppleton , has been nominated for allowing mums to get back into shape by taking their baby along while they exercise.

Wilkinsons , in Clifton Moor , has been shortlisted for the “helpfulness, pleasantness and willingness of the staff”.

Morrison’s , in Foss Islands Road, looks after customers, going the extra mile to help out, said customer Barbara Pettitt.

 

Best Community Project

The Island , based in St Columba’s Foundation in Priory Street, recruits volunteers to mentor vulnerable children and young people.

York Pride is a group of volunteers who promote equality, diversity and advances in education, to stop discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and who organise the annual York Pride event, which this year was attended by about 2,000 people.

Christopher David , of Holgate, made a film in support of The Press campaign Think, Don’t Swim, which has been seen by thousands of people and warns of the risks of falling or jumping into the Ouse and the Foss.

Street Angels , a group of volunteers from churches in the area, take to the streets of York every Friday and Saturday evening to provide help to those in vulnerable or difficult situations.

 

Best Primary School Project

Children, parents and staff at Lord Deramore’s Primary School in Heslington have organised endless fundraisers and events to help pay for the cancer treatment for pupil Jamie Inglis (as nominated in Child of the Year).

Pupils at Dunnington Primary School have taken part in a successful gardening challenge competition which has brightened up the village.

Poppleton Ouse-bank Primary School , in Upper Poppleton, has a popular new animal centre which is home to rabbits, ducks, pygmy goats, guinea pigs, gerbils, fish and a dog.