Teenage hero Alex Manning was cheered to the rafters as he was handed the ECHO Outstanding Achievement Award for pulling injured victims clear of the devastating New Ferry explosion.
Alex was just one of many magnificent local heroes recognised at this year’s glittering and glamorous ECHO Awards ceremony at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel.
On Saturday March 25, the 14-year-old Bebington High pupil heard a massive bang which he initially thought was a bomb.
But instead of running away, he raced to the rescue of injured people who were trapped in Lan’s House Chinese restaurant.
The brave youngster said: “To be honest I didn’t really think. I just knew people would need help so I ran towards it.
"People were covered in blood and a few people were trapped in bits of debris.
“Loads of people couldn’t find their way out so I just helped guide them out to the police. We needed ice and towels for first aid so I ran over to the pub over the road to get them and help the first aiders.”
The ECHO Awards, which were presented by original Big Brother winner Craig Phillips and Hollyoaks actress Jessica Fox and featured a three course dinner and live entertainment, celebrated all that is great about our region.
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The Merseyrail Young Personality honour was jointly awarded to George Mathias, Liam Pastore and Alfie Butler.
George, 11, from St Helens, is running a mile every month to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, after the hospital saved the life of his younger brother, James, who was born prematurely. And he has already raised a fantastic £30,000.
Liam Pastore, 14, from Stockport, courageously raced to the rescue of an unconscious mum and daughter who were drowning off Formby beach.
And Alfie Butler, 13, from Crosby, has been recognised for his commitment to St Michael’s High School’s eco alliance. Despite a number of barriers to his learning, including Down syndrome, Alfie has put his heart and soul into all aspects of the Crosby school’s eco work.
The Antrec Limited Sports Team Award went to the Everton Football Club Under 23s team , who won the league title and raised an astonishing £244,400 to buy a house that will provide a home for young people at risk of becoming homeless.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – run in conjunction with Everton in the Community – launched last November with the Goodison Sleepout, an event which saw the full under-23 squad, members of the coaching staff and Everton supporters sleep rough in the stands at Goodison Park on what turned out to be the coldest night of the year.
The Charity Organisation Award was won by Wheel Meet Again , an over 50s charity based in Mill Street, Liverpool 8, which focuses on addressing the growing problem of isolation and loneliness amongst this age group. It operates city-wide and offers weekly activities, events, excursions and day trips for its members.
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The Jaguar Land Rover Community Group Award was won by the Friends of Walton Park , whose 500 members have shown fantastic community spirit and enterprise by working to transform the park in the last three years.
The Courage Award was given to Lee Johnson, who was a drug addict as a teenager and homeless for 18 long years. But with the help of Everton in the Community, Lee turned his life around and now works part-time for the charity, helping others overcome the same issues he experienced.
The Premier Party Events Arts and Performance Award was won by singer Danielle Louise Thomas , a classically-trained Mezzo Soprano from Waterloo and ambassador of North West Cancer Research.
Danielle, who performed two songs after receiving her honour, is also well-known for her charity and community work, which has included performing a poignant version of Abide With Me during the Hillsborough Vigil held on St George’s Plateau in April last year. She dedicates smuch of her work and success to her late grandafther.
The Sports Personality Award winner was Shauna Elise Hogan, who was once deemed a “health and safety risk” by a teacher who did not want her to swim with her peers.
Shauna has Down Syndrome but it has not held her back. She trains with Liverpool and Cheshire Penguins, swims at regional and national galas and has won a host of awards including gold at this year’s Special Olympics and British Mencap Learning Disability Championships.
And she shares her experiences by speaking to students at Liverpool Hope and John Moores universities and doctors and midwives at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The Community Personality Award was given to Speedo Mick, aka Michael Cullen , who has spent more than two-and-a-half seasons taking his kit off at Everton games, raising more than £93,000 for a variety of causes and individuals – the bulk of it for Woodlands Hospice in Fazakerley, which cared for a friend.
The Fundraising Award was won by Jackie Wild, the inspirational mum from Bebington who has raised an incredible amount of money for Claire House Children’s Hospice.
Jackie organises the annual Claire House Cup football tournament in memory of her son, Elliot, who died, aged nine, in 2011, and has raised a staggering £240,000 in his name to date.
Community Event of the Year was won by Liverpool Pride, a much-loved annual extravaganza whose 2017 event will live long in the memory. Liverpool Pride was set up in 2010 in response to the aftermath of the murder of young gay man Michael Causer in 2008.
This year's event was the biggest and best yet, attracting around 50,000 visitors to the city.
ECHO editor Ali Machray said: “This was another tremendous night for Merseyside, which again gave the ECHO a chance to highlight the fantastic contributions made by so many individuals and organisations.
"We are so proud of all our winners, all those who were shortlisted and all those who were nominated.
"Merseyside is such a special place, with so many special people.
“I would also like to thank our fantastic sponsors – Merseyrail, Jaguar Land Rover and Antrec Ltd – who helped make these awards and this presentation night such a great success, and our gratitude also goes to Premier Party Events, who helped us to make this a night to remember.”*
A special supplement on the awards and all the winners will be published by the ECHO on Thursday, September 21.
Pics on night from Andy Teebay
Video on night from Mike Price
Those also shortlisted with the winners above were:
Antrec Limited Sports Team Award:
HPL Gymnastics Club
Wirral Schools FA Under 15s
Charity Organisation Award:
The Brain Charity
Tom Harrison House
Jaguar Land Rover Community Group Award:
Tomorrow’s Women Wirral
KDCS – Memory Lane
Courage Award:
Edris Nosrati
Jake Mills
Premier Party Events Arts & Performance Award:
Jay Wheeler
Merseyside Dance Initiative (MDI)
Community Personality:
Norah Button
Lynne Higgins
Fundraising Award:
Paul McMullen, Flame Spirit
Northwest Charity Singers
The LFC Foundation Legends Charity Match 2017
Denise Fergus
Community Event of the Year:
Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts
Yummy’s Scouse Christmas
ENDS