OUR winners of the Emergency Hero of the Year award, and a Highly Commended as part of our Leader Community Heroes Awards 2021, speak about what the awards mean to them.
The award went to North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR).
The team of volunteers work 365 days a year and receives no government funding for their hard work, meaning they are constantly fundraising to cover costs.
NEWSAR chairman Mike Waters said: “I am really thrilled the team members of NEWSAR have been recognised as the Emergency Heroes of the year by The Leader!
“None of the team members think of themselves as heroes, or being heroic in what we do.
“We’re all just ordinary people who apply trained skills to help others when they most need it.”
NEWSAR team leader Chris Griffths said: “Team members give freely of their time to attend rescues and searches for missing persons. They do this because they want to help the injured, sick and missing.
“To be recognised at a local level, by the community we serve, is a fantastic reward for that time and effort.
“It is particularly great to see all our non-mountain work being recognised, such as severe weather help in snow and floods and searching for missing persons.
“As a small charity, with no paid staff, everyone is also involved in fundraising.
“We are currently raising £65,000 to replace our primary incident control vehicle.
“If you can support us by a direct donation, charity event, or if you represent a company who could help then we’d love to hear from you.
“To donate go to www.newsar.org.uk/replacem3. For other help email fundraisingofficer@newsar.org.uk “
Highly commended went to Andy Williams.
Andy is a full-time firefighter who volunteered to deliver medication to the local community in the pandemic, but has continued his work in his free time while volunteering to check on the welfare of the elderly and vulnerable in Garden Village, where he lives.
He is sometimes helped by his dog, Buddi, a therapy dog who goes with Andy to Nightingale House Hospice and Wrexham Maelor Hospital weekly, visiting poorly children and patients.
Andy said: “I’d like to thank you for the award, it was a big shock reading the article and coming across my name in it.
“Being able to give something back to someone in the community that is need of help is a wonderful thing.”
Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre is a proud sponsor of the Emergency Heroes Award category.
A spokesman said: “We have chosen the Emergency Heroes Award category for the centre to sponsor as their support to our operation is essential.
“As frontline workers, they have continued through these unfamiliar times, providing their valuable support for us to operate safely and with peace of mind. Knowing that help is a phone call away, they are key to keeping us and the local community safe in our daily lives. An integral part of Wrexham town centre, Eagles Meadow offers something for everyone.
“With great restaurants, shopping and leisure, there is always something to keep you entertained. At Eagles Meadow, you’ll find a wide variety of popular high street shops such as Boots, River Island, Next and Marks & Spencer and unique independent stores.
“Shop ‘til you drop and relax and refuel in one of the great cafés or restaurants such as Nando’s, Subway and Costa Coffee before heading to the eight-screen Odeon Cinema or challenging friends and family at Tenpin.’
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