TEENAGER Keeley Holford broke down in tears when she found out she had won the Carer of the Year award in our Lockdown Heroes. The 16-year-old, who has been a carer for most of her childhood, could hardly speak as she became emotional when Dr Hilary congratulated her on her achievement. Keeley, who attends Green Lane School in Woolston, has been a young carer since the age of seven – she looks after her mum who has various health conditions, as well as her seven-year-old sister, helping her with homework, baths and getting dressed. Dr Hilary told her: “I am in awe of you when I hear about you starting as a carer at such a young age, at the age of six looking after your mum, looking after your sister as well, and then you had to balance all this, the practical work, with your schoolwork and homework.
TEARS were shed and celebrations had as the Warrington Guardian Lockdown Heroes awards took place. It was the first time the Guardian has hosted a virtual ceremony, but it was an emotional evening as we presented a total of 10 awards. There was also a surprise special recognition award for Prof Simon Constable, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals, for his efforts leading his teams through the Covid pandemic. You can read more from Prof Constable in next week s Warrington Guardian, and in the meantime find out why he was nominated by his staff by watching the video above. Dr Hilary Jones was the perfect host of the event, in association with Warrington Borough Council and Warrington Hospital, as he helped to celebrate and recognise the incredible efforts in our community over what has been such a challenging year.