Pride of East Yorkshire finalists unveiled

They are the real stars of our community. Our finalists are men, women and children who have made their own mark on the community with selfless acts, courage or a determination to help others. Today the Hull Daily Mail unveils the 24 finalists in our Pride of East Yorkshire Awards. They range from community sports coaches to a team of volunteer rescuers, from children battling illness with a smile to a soldier killed in action in Afghanistan. Sifting through the piles of Pride of East Yorkshire nominations we received, the judges had the unenviable task of narrowing down a shortlist. Every nomination had its merits but only three nominees could reach the final from each category. The calibre of responses we've had to these awards shows how warm, genuine and willing to help the people of East Yorkshire really are. Mail assistant editor Jamie Macaskill said: "When we launched the Pride of East Yorkshire, we were sure we would be able to unearth some excellent stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things in our region. "Our final 24 haven't let us down. "There are acts of courage and self-sacrifice, of bravery in the face of illness, of commitment to causes and people that go far beyond what we would already recognise as admirable. "It is heartening to know that if you take a snapshot of our community, you can find people like our finalists on your street, in your village, in your neighbourhood. "The finals will be a great event to celebrate them all." The glittering awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 5, at the KC Stadium. Each of our finalists will receive two complementary tickets to the awards, which will feature a special guest presenter and entertainer on the night. Every year, scores of people make a huge difference to the lives around them All of our shortlist are heroic in their own way. Together with our partner Hull City and our category sponsors, we want to give back to our deserving finalists. Each winner will receive a trophy along with £250, to recognise the inspirational, selfless and courageous spirit they encompass. We're putting a spotlight on those people who work tirelessly to benefit others and are happy to help without thanks. The Mail thinks those modest souls deserve recognition for their actions. As well as the nine individual categories, the shortlist will also go to a final judging panel who will pick one person, group or organisation to be named our Pride of East Yorkshire overall winner. We want these awards to be a lasting legacy to the people in the region and the next generation. One of our awards, Inspiring Youngster, is made in partnership with Hull Children's University, the Mail's charity of the year. Dr John Buttrick, head of Hull's Children's University, said: "I feel so privileged to be involved in the Pride of East Yorkshire awards, recognising and celebrating courageous feats of achievement, which would otherwise go unnoticed and unrewarded. "From the quality of the nominations, we're blessed with so many caring and understanding young people, so many individuals in fact, it's been extremely difficult to choose the shortlist. "Kids who've felt pain and illness, kids who've suffered bullying and overcome it, kids who provided life-saving care and those who've achieved excellent standards in the field of learning and want to push themselves even further. "The importance of celebrating young people's achievements is vital and builds confidence, giving inspiration to achieve great things. "It's a great awards programme, and I'm proud to be part of it." We've received so many grateful nominations, proving just how much our finalists have touched someone's life. Some have been life savers, who have rescued someone dear to them or even risked their life for a stranger. Many have improved the quality of life for others, been a shoulder to cry on in tough times or even survived serious illness when the odds have been stacked against them. It's not just the man on the street – while some have made a difference directly, we've also recognised businesses and charities who have helped to fund new ventures and changed lives. It all contributes to our region's great spirit and makes us proud of East Yorkshire. See the finalists and read their stories by clicking on the link below.
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