Nominations open for Pride of Manchester Awards
Former Corrie star Kym Marsh is back hosting for a third year
The awards ceremony celebrating the region's amazing unsung heroes is back - to once again recognise the incredible and extraordinary achievements of ordinary people.
At a time of unprecedented challenges, uncertainty, and change, organisers say it's more important than ever to acknowledge and reward individuals or groups who have displayed truly outstanding acts of courage, fought seemingly hopeless battles against the odds, shown unbelievable displays of compassion or have inspired a nation with their tireless campaigning for others.
Nominees could be 5 or 105 – heroism has no age barrier. And they could have changed one life or changed the world.
As well as being honoured with a Pride of Manchester Award, all winners will go forward to the judging process for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, which is aired on ITV in the Autumn.
Since the first Pride of Britain in 1999, royalty, prime ministers, and hundreds of leading figures from show business, sport, politics, and the arts have all taken part.
Who could forget watching incredible 92-year-old green-fingered great-gran Dena Murphy from New Moston, who cried tears of joy as she was surprised with the TSB Community Hero award for helping hundreds of young offenders get their lives back on track with the help of her community allotment?
Or in 2018 the extraordinary Ella Chadwick from Rochdale, who stole the show with her cheeky chat and singing skills, as she received her Child of Courage Award from the X Factor judges.
Other awe-inspiring Pride of Manchester award winners have included Maggie Oliver, a whistleblower who exposed catastrophic failures to protect child victims of grooming gangs; Anya Otley, a courageous little girl whose performance of ‘Fight Song’ while battling cancer, racked up one million views on YouTube; Bryn Hughes, the father of murdered PC Nicola Hughes, who used his grief to raise more than £300,000 to support young people bereaved by violent crime and biker Paul Redfern, who leads a group of life-saving volunteers on two wheels, delivering vital blood supplies where they are most urgently needed.
Returning for the third year as host, Kym Marsh comments: "Times are tough for everyone right now, but that just makes it more important than ever to highlight the unsung heroes out there and celebrate all the wonderful things they are doing. I am delighted Pride of Manchester is back to do just that, and I get to meet the incredible winners. It’s going to be amazing.”
Nominations will close on Sunday 7th March and the winners will be announced during a virtual celebration in May.
Gareth Lewis, TSB Regional Director North Wales and West England says “It has been a tough year for the people of Manchester, but time and again we have heard stories of how people and communities have stepped up to help each other and do some pretty extraordinary things. At TSB we are delighted to once again be partnering with The Pride of Manchester Awards, to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of local everyday heroes.”
Find out more about the Pride of Manchester Awards 2021 here.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.