THE winner of the 2018 Person of the Year award has been urging people to send their nominations in for this year’s York Community Pride Awards.

Former surgeon Prof Steve Leveson, who co-founded the charity York Against Cancer in 1987, was handed the Benenden-sponsored prize last year for his “outstanding work”, raising more than £15 million in the last 30 years to help local people fight against cancer.

His work had been described as having “improved life for cancer patients in and around York”.

Prof Leveson said that he was honoured to have received the award last year and encouraged others to come forward and highlight other deserving individuals in York.

He said: “It was a great accolade and reflects on the charity’s achievements far more than it does on mine.

“It is an important York award and I am honoured to have received it.

“Community Pride also gave York Against Cancer a showcase for its work, shining a spotlight on us as it does on lots of the great work being done in our city.

“I would encourage others to come forward and highlight deserving individuals, groups and causes for this years awards.”

For details on how to make a nomination, see the story on page eight or click here