Denton MP honours local 'unsung heroes'

Denton MP Andrew Gwynne held a virtual ceremony to present more than 40 of his Citizen's Awards last weekend.

The MP had launched the awards earlier this year to recognise the efforts of local ‘unsung heroes’ who have gone above and beyond for the people in their communities in the Denton and Reddish constituency.

He received literally hundreds of nominations from the moment the awards were launched, stating that he was ‘inundated with amazing and inspirational stories’ about the help people across the community were giving.

“There were so many doing so much in our community without asking anything in return so I wanted to celebrate these unsung heroes and give them the recognition I thought they deserved,” said the MP.

He has presented a number of the awards in a socially distanced manner over the past few months which have appeared in these columns.

But with the second lockdown, a virtual ceremony was organised on Saturday for which the winners received recognition for the efforts that they have gone to in order to help others.

These efforts included local people helping others both during the pandemic and more broadly, and included fundraisers, key workers, community helpers and more.

Many of the recipients were able to join the Zoom meeting, thanking the MP for their awards, often modestly thanking others and stating how proud and humbled they were.

Andrew said: “One of the best things about being an MP is finding out about all the brilliant things that your constituents do and we’re incredibly lucky to have so many selfless and community-minded people living here.

“Whilst I would have liked to have met all of the winners in person to present them with their awards, the pandemic has made this very difficult and I feel that this virtual event was a great way of celebrating and recognising their hard work.

“It was an absolute pleasure to spend my Saturday morning in the company of so many hardworking, dedicated and selfless local people.

“All of these awards were thoroughly deserved and I’d like to thank each and every one of the winners for the things that they do for the wider community,” he added.

Despite the mass presentation, the MP has no plans to stop honouring local constituents and will continue with his popular Citizen’s Awards into the future.

All of those receiving certificates are listed below.

• Aaron Clayton - For fundraising activities with Infinity United raising money for a mental health charity and Ronald McDonald House.

• Andy Hughes - Led free online workout sessions during lockdown to help people with their physical and mental well-being.

• Barbara Rathmill - Supported a shielding local family, who have children with additional needs, throughout the pandemic.

• Brooke Healey - Ran 100km in four weeks raising an amazing £2,000 for St John’s Ambulance.

• Carl Shaw - Raised a huge amount of money for charity as Haughton Green Spidey during lockdown and cheering up children.

• Caron and Steve Wright - For making and delivering food for the hospital and making face mask adapters for key workers.

• Cathy Newton - Arranges community events and works tirelessly, particularly for the over-50s to combat loneliness.

• Cheryl Doyle - Works as a nurse at Tameside Hospital caring for patients with Covid-19 and made the sacrifice of separation from her family to reduce the risk of transmission.

• Claire Horiansky - Facilitated a magnificent donation through Kind Snacks of 10,000 protein bars, which she then delivered to local hospitals, fire stations, the police and other front-line workers.

• Colette Holt - Helped to distribute food parcels to vulnerable members of the community during the pandemic and sourced face masks for front-line workers.

• Conor Hand and Rory Hand - They raised over £505 for Tameside Hospital and Marie Curie through a 150-mile sponsored walk around Tameside and a Swimathon.

• Debbie Millen - Has provided care of children of keyworkers and helped elderly and vulnerable families in the community.

• Deborah Hewitt - Works in residential care homes caring for residents with Covid-19 in challenging conditions.

• Dickson Enenche - A nurse working at the hospital throughout the pandemic taking care of patients with Covid-19.

• Eliza-Rose Leevy - Undertook a back handspring challenge during which she raised an amazing £528 for Tameside Hospital.

• Emma Ainscough - Looked after family, friends and neighbours as well as raising a huge amount of money for NHS charities and cheering up countless children as ‘Wonder Woman’.

• Emma Hope - Kept up the spirits of local residents dressed as Mary Poppins throughout a difficult personal time for herself as a new mum.

• Emma Maher - Throughout the pandemic has helped vulnerable people in the community with essentials such as food, gas and electricity.

• Evie Lambert - For making and selling loom bands to raise money for Manchester Children’s Hospital.

• Jade Rimmer - Supported vulnerable residents with deliveries of food and prescriptions.

• Jason Baird and Andrew Baldock - For entertaining and bringing joy to children and adults alike with Superhero visits around the local area and for raising a huge amount of money for the NHS.

• Dr John Gunn - For going the extra mile to help local owners and their pets get the treatment they needed in a safe way in often difficult circumstances

• Josh Gaskell and Phil Waddington - For year-round community work through All Saints Church and for providing food to families in need throughout the pandemic.

• Kelly Havern - Nurse who worked on the intensive care unit caring for patients with Covid-19 and made the sacrifice of separation from her family to reduce the risk of transmission.

• Lauren Downey - Donated PPE to Willow Wood Hospice when she was unable to provide beauty treatments and for raising money for the hospice. This is also while working full-time at The Christie.

• Matthew Allott - Works as a volunteer controller for Blood Bikes Manchester and during lockdown volunteered with the North West Ambulance Service while his paramedic training was suspended.

• Megan Bowers - Raised money for local organisations and provided care packages for elderly neighbours while furloughed.

• Nicola McCormack and Richard Manniex - For community support.

• Paul Maher - For sourcing and distributing over 200 mobile phones to vulnerable young adults.

• Peter Lockwood - For shipping and delivering other essentials to vulnerable people.

• Rae Hewitt - For consistently supporting the community.

• Rebecca Woodworth - For her tireless work at Tameside Hospital as a sister caring for patients in the ITU throughout the pandemic.

• Sarah Haddow - Provided food for colleagues at St Mary’s Hospital. She is a theatre nurse, who had to shield as a result of her own health needs and decided to raise money and encourage businesses to donate food so that frontline workers could have home-cooked meals during their long shifts.

• Sarah Hitchcock - Manager at Thorncliffe Grange Care Home. Has worked tirelessly to keep staff and residents safe and has helped families to keep in touch through Facetime, photos and video messaging.

• Shay Connolly - For raising funds for Denton West End Community Library and visiting elderly residents at Wilton Court to cheer them up.

• Shelley Johnson - Worked to help people keep active and keep in touch throughout the pandemic through zumba and yoga classes and social media support groups.

• Stephanie Hirst - Runs St Mary’s Foodbank with a team of volunteers and has helped feed hundreds of families through the pandemic.

• Stephen Day - For bringing the community together during the Clap for Carers and helping people enjoy a socially-distanced VE Day.

• Zoe McClean - Volunteers for the Dane Bank Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group supporting vulnerable people in the community.

• Tommy Parker - Toured the area with a Halloween bus as children couldn’t trick or treat this year and for collecting and donating to local people who are struggling and is planning Christmas events too.

• James Shone - Local postman who always goes the extra mile to help those on his round.

• Bernard Keenan - Litter picks around Jet Amber Fields to keep the area looking good.

• Stuart Clements - Undertook visits around the local area raising a huge amount of money for the NHS.

• Alan Pritt - Produces an amazing garden display, which puts a smile on everyone’s face.

• Colin and Irene Pilkington - When Dane Bank Gardening Society was unable to open they delivered compost and gardening items to people’s homes so they could continue to keep their gardens nice throughout the pandemic.

Main image:

CONGRATULATIONS: MP Andrew Gwynne hosts the Zoom event and congratulates just a few of the recipients.