October 2014 – Page 3 – Love Barrow Awards

The nominations keep coming…

October 16, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

The inbox is looking busy again – I’ve got NINE new nominations to tell you about, including our first nomination for Young Citizen of The Year in the 2015 Love Barrow Awards.

All of the new nominations will be featured on this blog over the coming days – but for now, here’s the names –

GROUP OR PROJECT OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

ABBOTSVALE RESPITE CARE

ART GENE

CAST THEATRE COMPANY

WALNEY ISLAND COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

CARER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

SHARON LEE BARKER

KATH WOODEND

TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

NEIL TIPPINS

YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

OWEN ENTWISTLE

SPORTS VOLUNTERR NOMINATION

SHARON GEORGE

Keep an eye on this blog and our social media accounts over the next few days as we give more details about these great nominees. Remember – nominations are open until 9th November, the clock’s ticking, get your nominations entered by clicking the Nominations tab at the top of this page.

Courage Nominee – Andrea Parker Edwards

October 13, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

A lovely nomination to start the new week, with a lovely local lady, Andrea Parker Edwards nominated for the Courage Award in the 2015 Love Barrow Awards.

Andrea is a young mother of two who is suffering with cancer. Instead of feeling sorry for herself she has thrown herself into cancer charity fund raising. She, together with her “Warrior Princesses” have raised over 10,000 pounds for cancer charities.

The nomination states that Andrea is “a person of immense courage”.

Andrea has show immense strength, trying to live a normal life despite her treatments and is a glowing example to the people of Barrow that life can carry on despite illnesses and her fundraising efforts are amazing.

Andrea has completed the “Race for Life” at two venues for Cancer Research UK, she and her warrior princesses held a “dryathlon” where they abstained from the demon drink for a month and has organised raffles and other fundraising events including a forthcoming “Old Skool House Music night” at the Nines club in November.

Andrea’s nomination is recognition for the efforts helping others while fighting a mammoth personal battle.

“to do the things she has done despite her cancer is beyond words sometimes”

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

That Friday feeling – we love Fridays here at the Love Barrow Awards!

October 10, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

Have you got that Friday feeling? It’s the end of the working week (for some, sorry to those of you who will be working), time to look forward to a well-earned weekend rest.

What have you got planned for the weekend? Tonight sees a glittering awards ceremony in neighbouring Ulverston so good luck to everyone who has been nominated there. I’ll be donning my running shoes and no doubt catching up with some of this year’s Love Barrow nominees at the Barrow parkrun – we’ve had a bumper crop of Sports Volunteer and Group nominations for runners this year.

What about other sports? Are you taking part in an activity this weekend where a volunteer goes out of their way to help others and deserves rewarding? Have a think, have a look around and see if you can spot someone worthy of a nomination, then come back and hit the nomination tab at the top of this page and get them entered.

Are you doing something with the kids – again, we’re looking for nominations for Young Citizen of the Year – I’m sure everyone comes across a child who goes out of their way to help others, it may even be your own child, there’s no restriciton on nominating them.

And what about those businesses who do their bit for the community of Barrow – a quick look around the town centre and the beautiful floral displays tells you why Continental Landscapes have been nominated in that category – there are plenty of local (and national) businesses supporting our community through sponsorship, volunteers etc – have a think and if you stumble upon a company who are helping others, get them nominated.

Have a good weekend everyone, whatever your plans and keep on the look out for potential nominees.

The blog will be busy all weekend, keep checking back or watch our social media accounts, We’ve still got nominees to tell you about.

Sports volunteer nomination – Barrow parkrun’s Stuart Wallace

October 8, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

Stuart Wallace is the latest nominee in the Sports Volunteer catgoery for the 2015 Love Barrow Awards.

Stuart is the parkrun director for the Barrow parkrun and works tirelessly each week to provide people of Barrow with a parkrun. He travels all over the country to attend parkrun meetings and does much work behind the scenes , he is also a founding member of the Parkside Panthers running group.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Stuart recently formed the Duddon Dragons running group in Askam, where previously there was no group in that area.

“Stu is a very humble person and would never view himself as somebody who does so much to help others, he is a font of knowledge to those needing advice and assistance. The amount of time he spends helping others is immense.”

“Stu has also been on a huge personal mission this year, to raise £1,000 for a local family’s charity on top of his community work he set himself challenges, and has worked incredibly hard, just recently knocking 40 mins off his marathon time.”

Stuart is a huge inspiration to others and is the first to admit that he used to be an overweight smoker less than 10 years ago, he’s a huge inspiration to all who know him. Having joined the parkrun fun myself in April this year to get fit, I can personally vouch for the encouraging nature of Stu and the work he does voluntarily for the running community in Barrow.

Well done Stuart on your nomination.

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

Mavis Lakeland – Citizen of the Year nominee

October 7, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

A familiar name for anyone who has ever visited the Red River Club in Barrow – Mavis Lakeland has been at the heart of the club for decades. Visit the club at any time of the day or night and you’re sure to bump into Mavis – she could be behind the bar serving, cleaning, running the kitchen / cafe, cutting the grass on the bowling green, organising darts, bowling and pool teams.. just about anyhting and everything! A working week for Mavis can mean a 90-hour marathon!

Mavis runs competitions in various sports that the club offers and is held in high regard for her coaching and encouragement of youngsters starting out playing pool. Local entertainer Denis Horan who is now the vice captain of the Irish pool team and current England Youth player Connor Treen both agree that without Mavis’s guidance and support they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to represent their country at international level.

“she gives time for everyone in the club and makes them all feel special be it the youngest child to the old guy sat in the corner, she certainly is the heartbeat of not just the club but the community.”

Mavis has organised so many charity nights at the Red River club raising tens of thousands for charity over the years including recently the Furness Motor Neurone disease association, Armed Forces and organises the childrens christmas party.

“Sadly, Mavis recently lost her husband to cancer but still kept doing all these things whilst her own personal pain was immense, she only cares about others, she also has had her own health problems but never lets on and just gets on with making you feel special.”

A thoroughly deserved nomination for a community stalwart, as I’m sure friends, neighbours, locals, members of the 12 pool teams, the two darts teams, don team, and bowls teams would agree!

Congratulations on your nomination Mavis!

Young Citizen of the Year

October 7, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

DO YOU KNOW A YOUNG PERSON WORTHY OF RECOGNITION IN THE 2015 LOVE BARROW AWARDS?

There are loads of young people in the Barrow area doing great things, helping others, volunteering, charity work, who deserve a nomination for the Love Barrow Awards.

Last year’s winner, Jacob McSweeney was rewarded for his fundraising for Cancer Research UK following his Mum’s diagnosis with breast cancer. Jacob managed to turn a gloomy personal situation around and help others by raising funds for the charity. One year on and things are brighter for Jacob, his Mum Lisa, has completed her chemotherapy, radiotherapy and two lots of surgery and has recently had her first clear mammogram since the disease struck. Jacob has taken his radio hobby to another level and now broadcasts a weekly show on CandoFM, Furness College’s own radio station which will soon be available on an FM frequency to the whole of Barrow.

Jacob’s nomination video, filmed by Love Barrow Award sponsors Workshop Media is below, there are links on the YouTube page to the other young people nominated for the Young Citizen category last year to give you an idea of the kind of people who have been nominated in past years.

Have a think, do you know a young person who deserves a nomination for this year’s award? It’s a great way of saying “Thank You” and recognising them for their efforts. Just follow the “Nominations” link at the top of this page and submit your entry.

Group / Project of the Year Nomination – A590 YOUTH THEATRE

October 6, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

This inclusive group was started a number of years ago for all young people, regardless of their abilities and financial background. Their aim is to be a community group who provide entertainment to the Barrow and surrounding areas.

The group focus on keeping their costs low so it is accessible to everyone who wants to become a member.

Being involved in the A590 Theatre Group teaches members skills that be transferred into adult life, such as commitment, teamwork, supporting others, working alongside different people and a sense of achievement which helps towards building their self confidence.

Members get involved in every aspect of performing in a show including fundraising, building scenery and making costumes. The group is run by a committee who are all volunteers, including 3 senior members and 2 junior members who are involved in the decision making of our group and to represent their age group.

The groups charity work is another string to their bow – among other fundraising efforts they have raised money for Help the Heroes and the multi cultural society in Barrow. The group also visit the many care homes around Barrow to entertain their residents who are unable to travel to see the shows they perform at theatres.

A fantastic group doing great work for the community in Barrow – well done on your nomination.

KEEP ON RUNNING!

October 6, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

“That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there…”

And so the running theme for the 2015 Love Barrow Awards seems to continue. We’ve already had John and Clare Greenwood nominated in the Sports Volunteer category, along with the Walney Wind Cheetahs for Group or Project of the Year and here’s another one – The Parkside Panthers.

The group is a real success story and continues to grow – helping and encouraging local people to get active and get fit. The group is run by a dedicateed team of volunteers, helping local people, some of whom have never done so much as run for a bus to take up the hobby of running.

Everyone is welcome and helped on an individual basis if that’s what they need . There are beginners programs, intermediate and advanced groups and nobosy is ever left behind – the inclusive and social nature of the group is what makes it appealing to so many people.

“They have totally changed my life around as they have with many others . Groups like this are getting the local people fitter and healthier and it’s all free and done purely on a voluntary basis”

The group now numbers over 100 members and can regularly be seen pounding the streets of Barrow with volunteer run leaders supporting and encouraging eveyone along the route.

Well done to the Parkside Panthers on their nomination.

DO YOU KNOW OF A SPORTS GROUP, (IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A RUNNING GROUP!) OR ORGANISTAION THAT DESERVES A NOMINATION FOR A LOVE BARROW AWARD?

THE NOMINATION PROCESS IS REALLY SIMPLE AND CAN BE COMPLETED ONLINE FROM THE LINKS AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.

Spread the word, spread the Love!

October 6, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

Can you help us spread the Love?

We’re reaching out to the local community to spread the Love about the Love Barrow Awards and have designed a series of posters to raise awareness of the nomination process.

All of the posters are available from this website (click here to open poster page in a new window)

Can you help? Do you have a notice board in your workplace, office or school where you could display a poster and help us collect a bumper inbox of nominations – be sure to ask permission first before placing posters!

The nominations are coming in thick and fast, but we really want to reach out and spread the word wider than ever this year.

Thank you if you can help.

Cheers

Darren & the LBA team

Citizen of the Year nomination – Mike Gough

October 3, 2014 Love Barrow Admin

I did say the Love Barrow Awards inbox was bulging, so here’s another nomination to tell you about, this time for the Citizen of the Year category – Mike Gough.

joe andrews Mike, off his own back, organised and pulled off an amazing charity event in memory of Joseph Andrews. Barrow teenager Joe was tragically killed in a road traffic accident in August 2013 and his family set about raising funds for the North West Air Ambulance in his memory.

Mike was so inspired by Joe’s parents’ fundraising that he decided to help out.

Mike organised an amazing charity event and raised the profile of NWAA to many thousand people and helped raise thousands for the charity itself and showed what a vital service this is for our area.

“Mike not only has showed determination but showed true love and compassion to the people of Barrow”

“Mike is a true Gentleman and always puts others before himself in a truly unselfish manner.”

Mike pulled together many different people from the Barrow area to work towards helping Gavin & Julie Andrews reach their £19,000 target for NWAA. With only 4 weeks available to organise the huge football event held at Holker St, Mike unselfishly gave up hours and hours of his free time to make sure the event went as planned.

Mike completed all of this despite facing a personal challenge – he has a condition called Fibromyalgia, acondition that gives constant pain and causes fatigue with no known cure. Whilst battling this and organising the charity event, Mike also set up a help group for fellow sufferers which has gone from strength to strength, ensuring other sufferers have a place to go for support.

Amazingly, only one week after the charity football match, he then went on to walk 40 miles in the Keswick to Barrow flying the flag for NWAA, despite carrying injuries from the previous weeks fundraiser at Holker St!

Like many other Love Barrow Award nominees, Mike never asks for credit for what he does and so hopefully this nomination will go some way to acknowledging and thanking Mike for what he has done and achieved.

Well done Mike on your nomination, thoroughly deserved.