Your Champions 2011: Last year’s overall Chester winner encourages people to nominate

Jul 28 2011 Chester Chronicle

A COURAGEOUS teenager who was named Champion of Champions in the 2010 Trinity Mirror Cheshire/ ScottishPower Your Champions awards is supporting our latest search for a hero.

Hannah Jones, who celebrated her 18th birthday in style at Telford’s Warehouse on Thursday, July 21, scooped the top accolade last year at the gala event held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester.

The teenager, who is currently awaiting her A-level results from Christleton High School, has been battling a brain tumour while raising more than £140,000 to date for research into her condition.

An anonymous Chronicle reader put Hannah’s name forward in the Young Person of the Year category, but judges were so impressed by the strength and courage of the remarkable youngster that they named her the overall winner.

Hannah, who attended the event with dad Steve, mum Dianne and sister Molly, was overwhelmed she had been nominated, let alone been crowned champion of champions.

An emotional film of her story – presented by master of ceremonies for the evening Trevor Green of Sky and Granada TV – brought tears to the eyes of the audience.

Hannah had no idea about the special award and thought a film about her was just to help the judges with their decision.

“I thought I’d be there clapping and screaming for someone else and then the film went on,” she said.

The film featured secret interviews with Hannah’s friends, teachers and even Socks, the Christleton High School cat.

Guest of honour world champion snooker player John Parrott was so impressed with the teenager’s fundraising abilities he suggested he could come to her for help.

Hannah said: “He said ‘You mean business, don’t you’. He told me that he knows where to come when he needs his car selling!

“He said he would drop me an email so I could contact him to help out at my next fundraiser, but he hasn’t yet!”

In true Hannah style, she continued her fundraising throughout her A-levels. Her ambition is to study primary school teaching at the University of Chester.

Hannah added: “There are so many people out there who do tremendous things, so I definitely encourage others to nominate the unsung heroes and heroines in our community.

“It’s not just me who is brave. There are so many others like me who are inspirational and need to be recognised too so nominate them today.”