Time to honour our Local Heroes

From the nine-year-old girl who gave her sister the gift of life to the lady who wiped out anti-social behaviour by running a youth club from her shed.

People from across the Black Country and Staffordshire were honoured at a ceremony staged to commend their inspirational stories.

Each of the 10 winners of the 2010 Express & Star Local Heroes Awards have overcome their own private struggles with adversity and worked above and beyond the call of duty to make life better in their communities.

They were honoured at an awards ceremony and festive lunch at Molineux yesterday, attended by a host of Wolverhampton Wanderers stars and Black Country VIPs.

The awards are organised by the Express & Star, Birmingham Midshires and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Host Carl Chinn told the winners and their proud families their stories of heartfelt labour had left him staggered beyond words.

"Sometimes you feel as though you've run out of adjectives and you're using the same ones again and again," he said.

"But every single one of you is truly remarkable, extraordinary and outstanding."

First to claim her award, presented by Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and BBC WM's Joanne Malin, was Julie Rafiq, who lives on the Delves estate in Walsall.

The 39-year-old was fed up with the vandalism and unruly behaviour that was rife near her home — and unhappy that nobody was taking responsibility for the root of the problem.

The mum-of-four set up a youth club from a 20ft by 20ft shed to give the young people in the area something to do because they felt the reason for their actions was boredom.

Anti-social behaviour in the area has fallen sharply as youths in the area arrive in their droves to take advantage of the service Mrs Rafiq offers.

"As parents we can be eager to point the finger," she said. "But we are the parents, we have got the answers. People need to take action in their communities." One of this year's most energetic winners was 90-year-old Mary Boddy, of Finchfield, who was commended for her tireless work in organising social events for her former Beatties work colleagues.

The grandmother of two and great-grandmother of one, greeted on stage by Steven Mouyokolo and cycling legend Hugh Porter, brought down the house by pledging to keep working until she receives her telegram from the Queen.

"I just hope she changes her dress for mine," she said.

"I've seen a lot of the telegrams as I've visited the oldies and it's been the same one for 10 years."

Speaking of her award, Mrs Boddy said she was "honoured" and "does it to keep the Beatties family together".

She added: "Beatties has always been special in Wolverhampton, for many years. It's like the Express & Star. It is Wolverhampton"

Retired ambulance technician Mark Griffiths, aged 65, formed Featherstone and Brinsford Community First Responders four years ago. The scheme now has 12 volunteers, who provide life-saving treatment to people in the village and surrounding area.

They provide vital first aid before paramedics reach the scene and carry the same equipment as would be found in a normal ambulance. It has helped the area meet its target of delivering first aid to critical emergencies in eight minutes or less.

But Mr Griffiths, who received his award from Wolves' Nenad Milijas and Olympic gold medal swimmer Antia Lonsbrough, was keen for the credit to be shared with his volunteers.

"They do so much, everything from fund-raising on a day-to-day basis to keep the group going to doing their training and providing this crucial service" he said.

"They deserve real credit for what they do."

Christopher Biggins took a break from rehearsing his role in this year's Aladdin pantomime at the Grand Theatre to honour Chloe Hawthorne, the 11-year-old who stepped in to save 13-year-old sister Chenelle as she suffered a chronic diabetic attack.

Chenelle was in danger of slipping into a coma when brave Chloe stepped in to sample her blood sugar levels then rushed to find and feed her a sugary snack.

Chloe, along with her sister, is a St John Ambulance cadet and has been chosen to front the organisation's campaign to encourage more people to learn life-saving skills. The family, of Hurcott Road, Kidderminster, were invited by Christopher Biggins to take in this year's panto — and tour the backstage area — as an added treat.

One hero who could not receive her award in person was 90-year-old Ethel Powell, a prolific charity fundraiser from Cannock who has helped to raise more than £1.5 million for Cannock Chase Hospital.

Mrs Powell, of Hatherton Road, was taken ill on the eve of the ceremony but received rapturous applause from guests and stars in recognition of her decades of volunteering.

Central News anchorman Bob Warman joined goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann on stage to honour Pete Tonkiss, a 52-year-old builder of Stourbridge Road, Halesowen, who risked his own life to rescue a disabled couple from a burning building. The dad-of-four heard screams of 'help' while working at a neighbouring house and braved smoke and flames to carry Sue Reis and John Ward, who both use wheelchairs, from the building.

But with the modesty of a true community hero, Mr Tonkiss insisted his rescue was "just one of those things" and "something anyone would do."

Essie Lewis, of Church Road, Oxley, took her Local Hero award just weeks after receiving her MBE from the Prince of Wales.

The 70-year-old has worked for half a century to drive out discrimination and boost the prospects of Wolverhampton's black community.

In 2000 she established the Moreland Trust, based in Whitmore Reans. Originally just four people were involved in the project but over the years the organisation has secured a number of grants which has allowed it to grow.

Mrs Lewis said she was supported in her work by her husband Wellesley, who died in 2008, and told the ceremony: "I came to the UK in 1959 and since then I have been a Wolverhampton person."

Nikki and Tim Dawson, from Cannock, received their award for campaigning work following the death of their daughter Bethany at the age of two.

The couple have helped to inspire thousands of people to become organ donors by telling the story of their daughter.

Nikki, aged 23, and her husband Tim have fought tirelessly to raise awareness for organ donation since Bethany was born with gastroschisis in which the intestine is exposed before birth and has to be replaced. The couple, of Whinnyates Rise, and their wider family dedicated themselves to Bethany's round the clock care.

At just 10 months old, it became clear that Bethany needed a liver and bowel transplant. Nikki launched a Facebook campaign to encourage people to join the organ donation register, attracting 160,000 members. After a successful transplant, Bethany died on September 17.

Father Tim said: "We are obviously so grateful to the family who provided us with the transplant and to everyone who has supported the Bethany Sunshine Fund. We want to thank the Express & Star because they've been there right from the start.

"We created the fund to help people because we know what they are going through and know how hard it can be."

Pc Darren Jacob and Pc Gary Wilkes, both aged 44 and based at Dudley, were presented with awards after they tackled two men armed with kitchen knives after they had threatened a terrified family.

They had already received a commendation from police top brass for their bravery.

The officers, who have both been in the force for eight years, confronted the knifemen minutes after they tried smashing their way into a house while the terrified family cowered behind a makeshift barricade.

The officers insisted they were simply doing their duty and have pledged to donate their cash award to local good causes.

The final hero to claim her award was nine-year-old Lauren Withers, whose tear-jerking story of heroism made sure there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Lauren, of Castleton Road in Lower Farm, Bloxwich, showed no hesitation in stepping forward to give her five-year-old sister, Emily, a bone marrow transplant after she was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in April.

Emily, who has a twin brother, Jack, has also had to undergo chemotherapy. She was in hospital with pneumonia until the night before the awards and parents Mark, 40 and Joanne, 34, feared Emily would not be able to see her sister claim the much-deserved award.

But Emily battled back again and joined the rest of her family for a tearful acceptance speech. Mother Joanne said the family are now relishing the prospect of a "big Christmas with all of us together."

Lauren, who was the only member of her family whose bone marrow was the perfect match for Emily, added: "I've had a fantastic day and I'm looking forward to spending my prize money."

Stars and dignitaries at the ceremony said they were bowled over by the stories of human endeavour and spirit.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: "I have enjoyed myself and I know that the players have too. It's good to see these people up there getting their awards, their praise and their dues for all they've achieved."

Asked if it was refreshing to take an afternoon away from the pressures of Premier League football, he admitted: "I've been talking to the lads on my table about football all afternoon so I haven't really had an afternoon off that."

Shot-stoppers Marcus Hahnemann and Wayne Hennessey also paid tribute to the award-winners. Marcus said: "Some of these people have been through an awful lot. I'm a father myself and I found it difficult to sit and listen to some of the stories.

"Sometimes I think we are caught up in our own worlds and we can forget. But these people have been through so much, and through it all they're setting up charities and giving up their time for other people."

Wayne Hennessey added: "What these people have done is fantastic, and what has impressed me is the range of people involved. We've seen everything from little children to women in their 90s.

Mark Drew, Express & Star assistant editor, told the winners: "Everybody at the Express & Star looks forward to this event every year as we get to meet some really special people.

"Working in a newspaper you encounter stories about the worst aspect of society each day. You can sometimes forget there is plenty of good news out there with people doing amazing things every day of the year."