Hollie Byrnes nominated for Community Pride Award (From York Press)

Hollie Byrnes nominated for Community Pride Award

8:51am Thursday 8th March 2012 in News

An amazing York teenager has been nominated in the Spirit of Youth category of The Press Community Pride Awards. HAYDN LEWIS reports.

Hollie Byrnes, 17, of Holgate, York, suffers from a genetic condition called arthrogryposos, which means her joints were curved in several areas of her body at birth. The condition has confined her to a wheelchair, making simple everyday tasks like closing her own bedroom door impossible.

The York College student needs round-the-clock care, with no choice but to depend on others to meet her daily needs.

The Press has previously reported on Hollie and her labrador assistance dog, Hilton, and how Hilton helps Hollie with a range of everyday tasks that previously would have been down to her mum, Sandra.

We have also reported on Hollie’s audacious attempt to raise £8,000 in only a month for a new all-terrain wheelchair to enable her to exercise Hilton – a feat she achieved with the help of family, friends and local businesses.

Nominating Hollie for the Spirit of Youth award, which is for young people who show the best positive example to their peers, their school or college and their community, her mother Sandra said: “Hollie is pretty inspirational, her outlook on life is amazing and she is looking forward to getting her new chair soon.”

This is the ninth year in which The Press has run the Community Pride awards, in partnership with City of York Council, to celebrate the bravery and caring of York residents.

The awards, whose principal sponsor is Benenden Healthcare Society, are to honour children and young people, teachers, schools, charity fundraisers, parents, community projects, volunteers, those who provide service with a smile and sports, health service and public sector heroes. A nomination alone could mean the world to them.

This year’s community awards are made even more significant this year as the city holds the York 800 celebrations, to mark York’s 800 years as a self-governing city, a theme which will be reflected in the ceremony.

All nominees must live or be based in the City of York Council area. The finalists will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony in October.

You are free to nominate people for any category but the judges may move nominations to different categories if it is thought they better reflect the work they have done.

To make a nomination, complete the coupon printed here and send it to Kate Liptrot, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN before Monday, July 16.

You can also make a nomination online by logging on to thepress.co.uk/pride You must include a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4 with each nomination, and may include a picture, which unfortunately we will be unable to return.