The Pride of Britain Awards
Anna-Louise was honoured to be invited to represent The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation at The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards last November. The awards are a uniquely uplifting celebration of the often unseen heroism in our midst, celebrating the achievements of truly remarkable people who make our world a better place. Hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo and screened on ITV, it is the highest rated awards show on British television.
The award winners are chosen from tens of thousands of public nominations and stories of remarkable individuals discovered by a dedicated team of researchers. Since the first Pride of Britain in 1999, royalty, prime ministers, and hundreds of leading figures from show business, sport, politics and the arts have all taken part as the winners are honoured at the glittering annual Awards dinner at the Grosvenor House in London.
Anna-Louise described the evening as “incredibly moving, and also somewhat surreal” saying “I was fortunate enough to attend to some very glamorous and star studded events alongside Pollyanna, but this was at another level…. It was a bit like walking into Madame Toussauds to find all the waxworks had come to life! And most importantly there were the incredible stories of the selflessness, courage and compassion of the award winners themselves which were so heart warming and inspirational”.
Among the roll call of celebrities in attendance were Sir Rod Stewart (above with Anna-Louise) and Penny Lancaster, Peter Andre, Philip Schofield, Sir Mo Farrah, Claire Balding, Rapper Ne-Yo, Frankie Bridge, Westlife, Danny Dyer and the cast of Eastenders, England Captain Harry Kane, Simon Cowell, Aleesha Dixon, Susannah Reid, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry and Dame Joan Collins to name just a very few!
But the true stars of the evening were undoubtedly the award recipients, like Child of Courage winner Harmonie-Rose Allen. The seven-year-old from Bath was given a 10% chance of survival as a toddler when meningitis forced surgeons to amputate both her arms and her legs. After more then 10 operations the quadruple amputee is an active swimmer and gymnast who has raised more than £76,000 for Meningitis Now through events such as the Bath Half Marathon. When Carol Vorderman asked her what motivated her to fight the odds she replied in a matter-of-fact way: “Never give up and keep on going with your life.”
Hughie Higginson, 10, and Freddie Xavi, 11, have raised more than £220,000 after Hughie was diagnosed with leukaemia and Freddie vowed to help him thank his doctors and nurses at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Freddie ran 2km every day for 50 days and Hughie summoned all his strength to join his mate on the final stretch so they could cross the line together, hand-in-hand.
It was truly an evening to restore your faith in humanity.