Search begins for Your Champions 2009

Jun 17 2009 By Chester Chronicle

Your Champions

Trinity Mirror Cheshire has once again joined forces with ScottishPower to host Your Champions 2009, an exciting venture which lets us pay tribute to those who make a difference in our area.

Your Champions has been highlighting the good work of individuals and groups since 1988 and we want you to tell us who should get the red-carpet treatment this year. 

Our heroes and heroines will be honoured at a glittering presentation ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday, November 6th. 

Once again Trinity Mirror Cheshire is delighted to be linking up with ScottishPower, which is committed to supporting local communities. 

Champion of Champions in 2008 was Rebecka Ollier from Crewe, now aged 13, for raising more than £3,000 for the Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool, in memory of her elder brother Jimmie who was cared for there up until his death in May 2006. “I was so shocked I was recognised for the Champion of Champions award,” said Rebecka after the ceremony. “I was very nervous about going up on stage in front of everyone but I had a great night.”

There are many people in the community whose voluntary work goes unreported.  People who are unsung carers, teams of people who are environmentally active, young people who are exceptional in sport, amazing schools, so many in our region who are going out and doing great work, but make a real difference to their locality.

We want you to nominate them and bring their good deeds to the attention of a wider audience.

Area winners will go forward to a final judging session and all the successful category winners will receive their awards on November 6th.

All you have to do to nominate an individual or group of people for Your Champions is complete our nomination form.

Eric Langton, editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Cheshire, is delighted to be working in partnership with ScottishPower for the twenty-second year to highlight the work of ordinary people doing amazing things in the community. 

He said: 'These awards are recognised as one of the leading events for identifying these people who make such a contribution to community life.' 

He added 'No one is better placed than our readers to tell us who is going beyond the normal call of duty in the way they help our communities. Tell us about them now so we can give them the recognition they deserve."

Categories for Your Champions 2009 are:

Champion of the Year:  The man or woman who is making the most significant contribution to the community during 2009.

Champion School of the Year:  Schools or groups of pupils who are making a difference in their neighbourhood.

Champion Team of the Year:  This can be any kind of group which is making a contribution to the community during 2009, from people who work to improve the environment to sporting and charitable organisations.

Sporting Champion of the Year: Either an individual or a team that has excelled in his, her or their community during 2009 and become an example for others.

Young Champion of the Year:  A special young person, aged 19 or under by the end of this year, who has succeeded – often against the odds – in making a big contribution to the community during 2009.