Croydon Champions awards recognises borough's heroes (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon Champions awards recognises borough's heroes

10:49am Friday 7th November 2008 in

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Croydon’s Champions were honoured last night at a star studded awards ceremony.

More than 300 people attended the Croydon Guardian’s event which aims to recognise those people within the borough who tirelessly try to make the town a better place to live.

The gala evening was hosted by Olympic medallist Tasha Danvers who won bronze in the 400m women’s hurdles in Beijing this year.

Miss Danvers, whose family live in Coulsdon, who talked about her success at the Olympics described all of the nominees at the event as Champions.

“Whether you win an award or not you are all Champions just for getting here.”

Mayor of Croydon Jonathan Driver also gave a speech praising the award winners.

He said: “Croydon is a borough to be proud of.”

The audience were entertained by X Factor’s Ashley McKenzie and Fame Academy’s Audley Anderson, himself a Champions nominee for his work with disadvantaged children with the Streetwise project.

Dave and Jessi Markee performed jazz while Arts Champions winning rock band The Loudness had the crowd on its feet with Mott the Hoople’s All the Young Dudes.

Among the award winners were soldier Corporal Simon Wiggins who won Act of Bravery after he managed to return to work just six months after losing his leg in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan.

Eliza Rebeiro, a 15-year-old anti-knife campaigner won Community Champion for her inspiring work keeping youngsters away from crime.

And three-year-old Serena Souissi, who died earlier this year after losing her battle with cancer, was recognised as the Child of Courage.

Assistant editor Matthew Knowles said: “It was a fantastic night. I felt proud to be part of an event that recognises those people who do their very best every day just to improve people’s lives in Croydon. Over the last year we have featured many Champions within our newspaper and on our website. Only one can become an award winner but everyone who was nominated is a Champion.

“There were some truly inspirational people at the awards ceremony, many of which do what they do without recognition. I hope we went some way to rewarding them for their efforts.”

All the finalists and award winners and plenty more pictures will feature in a special celebration pull out section in this week’s Croydon Guardian.

• To order pictures click here.