Category: Darren’s Blog

Diana has been nominated in the Courage category of the 2016 Love Barrow Awards.

Diana Burns is a well known figure locally, she has been fundraising for charity for over 6 years now including the Barrow Firefighters appeal and the defibrillator appeal. These were causes close to Diana after she was rescued from a house fire and resuscitated. This year Diana was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had 6 rounds of chemotherapy and a lumpectomy and the next stage of treatment is radiotherapy. Throughout her illness she has continued to fundraise, this time supporting Breast Cancer Care. She has stood in the market doing a tombola stall the day after a chemo session, she arranged a sponsored head shave and the highly successful Summer Fun Day in Barrow park,  organised a sponsored sky dive, sponsored chest wax and raffles.

(Diana is a huge Eddie Stobart fan – she’s seen here in the cab of one their trucks midway through her chemo treatment)

She has already started planning next years Funday and the Oncology unit at FGH will benefit.

So far between fundraising and sponsorship for a marathon that her friend is running she has raised  in excess of £3000 since her diagnosis in May.

The nomination form closes with a fitting statement – “Fighting breast cancer Diana has continued to be a source of inspiration to all. She is a dedicated friend and a relentless fundraiser.”

Hi Everyone,

After just over a week we’ve received over 20 nominations for various categories in the Love Barrow Awards. I’m here to give you a glimpse into some of the stories and maybe inspire you to nominate someone yourself?

First up this year for the 2016 awards we have a nomination for Citizen of the Year – NICKY GUEST

Nicky is a counsellor at SAFA , a self harm group in Barrow – the nomination form says she works tirelessly trying to raise funds for them , as they need every penny they can get to keep providing a truly vital service.

The nomination form is a wonderful summary of Nicky’s character – “Nicky is just great, she is funny , kind , caring , patient, she believes completely in SAFA .”

The people who benefit from Nicky’s work are those who self-harm. they benefit from the work she does, not only does she counsel people that need help, she also tries to raise money to help ensure the service keeps running.

Just recently she had her head shaved to raise funds for SAFA – she really does care about the cause!

The nomination was made anonymously, which is absolutely fine, we welcome all nominations, just head over to the nomination section of this website and it’s really easy to nominate someone!

 

Hi Everyone,

Sorry the blog’s been a bit slow off the mark if you’ve been checking the website, but I plan to fix that and keep you up to date with everything from now on…

So what’s been happening in #LBA land?

The team behind the awards had their first full meeting last Thursday at the offices of the North West Evening Mail (thanks for accommodating us, sorry for running over, not sorry for having to relocate to the Duke)

Lots to do and lots to learn with some great new people on board too, hopefully you’ll get to know them through this blog as we throw the spotlight on some of the team that make the event happen this year.

BUT, most importantly, NOMINATIONS are open now – and it’s so, so easy to do! Just head over to http://lovebarrowawards.co.uk/nominate/ and fill in the online form, “simples” as somewhat annoying meerkats may say.

REMEMBER, there’s a time limit on nominations, we need them in by 8th November – last year we unfortunately had people wanting to nominate once they’d closed and we hate to have to turn away any nomination, so please get them in before the deadline.

Have a look around the site at previous winners and nominees if you need inspiration, everybody knows somebody locally who goes that step further for others.

Will keep you up to date with events, in the meantime, get those nominations in…

Darren

The famous Gold envelopes containing the winning names for each Love Barrow Award category are sealed and safely under lock and key at LBA HQ. The seating plan is finalised, the food ordered, the speeches prepared, I think we’re about ready..

No doubt a hectic week in front of us as we head towards the big event on Friday – be sure to check the list of finalists and see who’s in the running for an award. The news will be broken live on our Facebook and Twitter feeds on the night as well as on The Bay radio, make sure you join us on Friday and see the Best of Barrow!

Only 7 sleeps until the Love Barrow Awards! How did that happen? Can’t quite believe how the time has flown.

The machine is now in full swing, gold envelopes being sealed, trophies engraved, seating plan produced, food ordered, videos produced…

Mad times at the LBA offices for the next week, but it will all be perfect on the night!

The team from Workshop Media, whilst busy this week filming the interview videos with all of the Love Barrow Awards finalists are out on location today. Normally they complete all of the interview videos in November and the location shooting is left until after the Christmas break, but that poses a problem this year with one particular finalist – Irene Canon.

Why does Irene’s location filming need to be pulled forward? Is she off to sunnier climes in January? Does she have other pressing engagements? Nope, none of these – Irene has been nominated for her work in caring for hedgehogs and with the weather now taking that seasonal cold turn, the cute little creatures are getting ready to hibernate!

There are actually only three native British mammals that hibernate – the hedgehog, the bat and the dormouse. All other animals including squirrels, moles and others seem to be able to eke an existence out of the meagre pickings of winter. Even snakes and lizards do not hibernate in the true sense of the word – they just become inactive while hidden in a deep frost-free hiding place.

So to get some footage of the animals that Irene spends so much of her time caring for, the Workshop team have had to juggle the schedule to plan today’s location shoot in before they nod off for winter!

Once the team have finished, it’s back into the warmth of the studio to resume interview filming, with today’s line-up involving Junior Citizen Scheme, Tim Millar and Team from The Grove vets, Cumbria Police and Dexter the police dog, Amy Healey, Vicky Bell, Walney 1^st Responders.

The day has arrived – the team of judges will be locked in a room at #LBA HQ until pink fluffy Love Barrow smoke comes from the chimney!

But who are these mysterious judges? Mysterious no more – as we can reveal all about them right here!

 

Phil Rodgers – Programme Controller – The Bay Radio

“My role is to look after the programming team at The Bay broadcasting across the Furness Peninsula, South Cumbria and North Lancashire.  The Bay has been a main partner for the Love Barrow Awards for many years and we enjoy broadcasting live from the event each year recognising the amazing local heroes in the community.  From competitions and promotions, to larger scale events such as the Christmas Lights switch ons and community festivals across the area I love to get the station involved in the area we serve. Also I must be honest with you…I’m not The Phantom Of The Bay”

Clare Fitzgerald – Deputy Advertising Director at Furness Newspapers

“I have been in my role for the past two and a half years. As an organisation we are proud to be involved in the Love Barrow awards each year. It never ceases to amaze me how many truly inspirational people, doing incredible things, are part of our community. As an individual I am honoured to have been involved in the steering group over the past two years and look forward to the celebrating the tenth year of the awards in 2015.”

Martin Lewis – Corporate Fundraiser – St Mary’s Hospice

 “I work within St Mary’s catchment area of Furness and the South Lakes developing relationships and establishing working partnerships with businesses who are looking to support the work that the team at St Mary’s Hospice undertake on a day to day basis. The role is a very varied one, but is hugely enjoyable, and I am proud and privileged to be able to contribute in my own way to the work that the superb medical team at St Mary’s Hospice undertake both at the Hospice and out and about within our community.”

Tony Callister – Firefighter with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and aBarrow Borough Councillor

 “I am very passionate about Barrow serving as a firefighter and district councillor and supporting local football representing the Football Association. Barrow has served myself and my family well giving many opportunities to succeed and lead a good life in a beautiful part of our peninsula.”

Milly Pyne B.E.M. – School Student; Voluntary Worker

“I’m 16 years old and currently in year 11. I’ve been involved with the Love Barrow Awards since receiving the Young Citizen Award in 2012. Along with my school studies, I’ve been volunteering at Oxfam in Ulverston for just over a year, which is very rewarding and enables me to meet lots of different people. I’m also a Young Ambassador for Alice’s Escapes, which sees me doing anything from paperwork in the office to helping with the changeover days in our holiday caravans. I love the outdoors and successfully reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, while raising £12,000 for charity remains one of my all time highs! I find the judging process very difficult and could usually choose more than one winner from the incredible nominations received.”

Vicky Pyne – Charity Founder; Voluntary Worker

“My name’s Vicky (although I’m probably better known as Alice’s Mum)! My sole purpose in life, is to continue the incredible legacy that Alice left behind – both by increasing the bone marrow registers and by ensuring that every family with a seriously ill child gets an Alice’s Escapes break. When I’m not volunteering, I’m happiest on a mountain with Milly, Simon and our faithful Labs, Mabel and Lottie. I’m honoured to be involved with the Love Barrow Awards in this, their 10th year. The vast majority of nominees go about what they do, without seeking recognition and, for me, that makes the Love Barrow Awards all the more special.”

John Irving – Police Constable with Cumbria Constabulary

“I am a Police Officer currently seconded into Cumbria County Council. I have been involved with the Love Barrow Awards since its beginning, some 11 years ago. We have always had a small but very good committee  who organise these awards and I would like to thank each one of them for their support over the years. I must also thank our generous sponsors that have helped us every year. I have had the pleasure to meet our 74 winners and 201 short listed nominees during the past 10 award evenings. They are all amazing people doing so much for individuals and our community. This is what makes Furness a great place to live.”

Keiron Christian – Youth Coordinator for Drop Zone Youth Projects

“My name is Keiron Christian I’m 23 and I am the Youth Coordinator for Drop Zone Youth Projects who deliver a variety of youth provisions in Barrow, Dalton and Askam-in-Furness for young people aged 8-21.

This is my second year as a judge and am happy to have been invited back to help the judging process.

I have myself received an award from the Love Barrow awards for Young citizen of the year and am very happy to now be a part of the panel who have the difficult decision of selecting a finalist from each category to be this year’s winner.

Good luck to you all and thank you for your work, dedication and time you put into our community.”

Oh, and me, Darren McSweeney –

“Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a… oh hang on, getting mixed up there, try again…

Local campaigner, newspaper columnist, soon to be unemployed engineering manager (gizza job?), father of two cracking boys, husband of one beautiful wife, lover of everything Barrow and Furness, the place & the people, finalist in last year’s awards, blogger for this year’s awards and honoured to have been asked to judge..”

WISH US LUCK, THIS COULD BE A VERY LONG DAY!

Not many nine year old children would decide, without any prompting, to raise funds for their local Oncology Unit, but that’s exactly what Jessica Jackson did.In March 2013 when Jessica heard about possible cuts to the ocnology services at her local hospital, she decided to rasie money to help out.

A keen baker, Jessica put her culinary skills to work and under the guidance of Mum Zoe, began making cupcakes to sell and raise funds for the Oncology Unit. Jessica made cakes in a range of flavours and styles and sold them all, raising an amazing £536.60 !

Jessica loves the idea of helping others and has continued her work – she has raised money for 33rd Barrow Brownies and local couple Paul and Clare Coulston. Having only just reached her tenth birthday, Jessica’s fundrasing total now stands at £936.60, an amazing total for anyone to reach, never mind a ten year old.

The nomination form is full of lovely praise for Jessica – “She is always smiling, has a lovely personality and is extremely polite, always taking time to say hello”

“Jessica is one of the most caring, considerate girls I know, she has a beautiful sunny smile and a wonderful caring heart”

“Jessica doesn’t realise how special she is and how many people’s lives she has touched by making her little cakes”

Congratulaions Jessica, a worthy nominee for Young Citizen of the Year and….

BREAKING NEWS – congratulations on making it to the final three in this category, see you on the red carpet at the Forum in March!