Community Hero Nominations 2007

Mr Louis Arthur, Volunteer, St. Gemma's Hospice

Louis Arthur is a volunteer for St. Gemma's Hospice in Moortown and has been a volunteer for the charity for the past 12 years. Over those years he has raised a staggering £100,000 for the Hospice, making him one of the Hospice's star volunteer fundraisers. It is not just the amount of money he raises that makes Louis worthy of an award, it is the way that he so selflessly raises that money.

The octogenarian dedicates five days a week to the hospice by sitting outside Leeds Kirkgate Market and collecting money from the shoppers. Come rain or shine, in hot days and on cold days, Louis sits and collects money for St. Gemma's. In a recent interview for the Yorkshire Evening Post Louis said, "I have never asked anyone for any money and I never shake the tin. I don't sing or dance or do anything, especially with my two left feet, I simply sit here and collect money."

Louis does not expect any thanks for carrying out the wonderful work that he does and it is this, accompanied by his 'beyond the call of duty' approach that makes him a great member of the Leeds community. He is very much a part of the Leeds market community and has been collecting money for a variety of charities for the past 37 years. Shoppers and market traders alike will seek him out to make their donations. The Leeds Kirkgate Market certainly wouldn't be the same place during the week without him.

Louis' fundraising efforts have directly helped literally hundreds of Leeds residents over the years. The £100,000 that Louis has raised since he has been volunteering for St. Gemma's would fund the entire running costs of the Hospice, including the 32 bed In-patient unit, the Day Hospice and our team of Community Nurses for nearly a week. St. Gemma's Hospice provides specialist medical and nursing care to local people suffering with a terminal illness and supports the families and carers too. Louis Arthur directly helps and supports the Leeds community on a daily basis and asks nothing in return.

Stacey Rodgers from Huddersfield.

PERSONAL tragedy has inspired Stacey Rodgers to do all she can to make sure other lives are not devastated in the same way. Her 10-year-old son, Dominic, died after a fumes from a faulty boiler and blocked flue at a neighbouring house seeped into his bedroom at their Fartown home in 2004. Stacey, 30, has campaigned tirelessly ever since to warn people about the deadly threat of carbon monoxide. And his death wasn’t in vain according to Stacey who has set up the Dominic Rodgers Trust to raise awareness about the killer gas. “I really believe what happened to Dominic has saved a lot of lives,’’ she said. “I know he would have been proud of what I have done to raise awareness.“

Ann Humberston Blue Bell Woods Hospice

Ann is a volunteer for Bluebell Woods Hospice and has volunteered her support for the last 10 years in raising money and helping to make people a where of the hopsice. Ann is now retired but works tirelessly camapigning every week for the cause. she holds lots of fund raising days and is always talking about the good work of the charity to thousands of people. Bluebell woods has jusy opened a new hospice in Dinnington in Near Sheffield. This new Hospice caters for children with cancer.

Winners

Click here for information on the winners of the Community Hero award.