SOME very special people in Warwick district have been honoured.
The Pride of Warwick Awards, organised by Touch FM, celebrated everything good about the district on Friday night (July 10) – from businesses to individuals.
Three special awards were also presented at the awards ceremony held at The Chesford Grange Hotel – to David Phillips, Viv Morgan, and a posthumous award to the parents of Milan Patel.
Mr Phillips is 71 years-old but just a few weeks ago he ran his 450th marathon, and to date has raised over £85,000 for charity. He has no intention of hanging up his running shoes any time soon and is aiming to complete 500 marathons.
Mrs Morgan has devoted herself to transforming young lives in and around the area. After running a bed and breakfast for six years, she and her husband read about a young girl who had taken her life after being bullied, and it led them to transform the B&B at Hatton into Northleigh School House – offering a safe educational environment for youngsters who had been bullied in mainstream education.
Milan Patel, who passed away aged just 14 in March, was a young football fan who fought a rare form of cancer not once, but three times.
The hugely popular Kenilworth Wardens player showed great courage throughout, and following his third diagnosis, a campaign to support his battle gained widespread interest – locally and across the nation, leading, Wayne Rooney, the Football Association, and the England team to all get involved.
The campaign has gone on to raise thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, helping countless others in a similar position.
On the evening, around £1,500 was raised for local charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, which was matched by Warwick based headline supporters Phillips 66. Baxi, who supported the Warwick District Pride Award, and who also donated £100 for every table to the charity bringing the grand total to just under £6,000.
Others honoured on the night for making a difference in the district were:
Business of the Year – Nashwhite Hairdressing
Other finalists – Formation Media; The Hatton Arms; Pack Smart
Small Business of the Year – Melon Communications
Other finalists – CJ’s Events; Fat Moomoo; Modern Homes
Business person of the Year – Martin Gordon
Other finalists – Nicola Smyth; Richard Hales: Sarah Law
Green Business of the Year – Ashorne Hill Management College
Other finalists – Action 21; Baxi
Customer Care Award – Woodland Grange Meeting & Conference Venue
Other finalists – Baxi; Marco’s New York Italian
Town Centre Business of the Year- Torrys Hardware and DIY
Other finalists – Loch Fyne Seafood and Hotel; Square Wine and The Spectacular Goat
Hospitality Business of the Year – The Cross at Kenilworth
Other finalists – The Hatton Arms; Wild Boar Pub Company
Team of the Year – Maid in Kenilworth
Other finalists – Blaze Hair; Old Leamingtonians RFC Rugby4Heros team
Citizen of the Year – David Phillips
Other finalists – Paul Bennett; Sarah Windrum
Carer of the Year – Vikie Shanks
Other finalists – Deafinitley Independent; Lisa Dargova; Viv Morgan
Educator of the Year – Kids Run Free
Other finalists – Autism Drama Group; Northleigh House School
Warwick District’s Pride Award – Motionhouse
Other finalists – The Kenilworth Centre; Warwick Community Band
