Below is the press release from HiQ. Sadly our Chairman didn't win but we are thrilled she got the recognition she deserves.
SELFLESS IVER HERO PRAISED AT NATIONAL AWARD CEREMONY!
A selfless ‘hero’ from Iver Heath has been praised by Olympic legend Sally Gunnell after narrowly missing out on winning a prestigious UK community award.
Sandra Corcoran, one of the longest serving members of Iver Heath’s community drama club, was one of 10 shortlisted people to win the coveted HiQ Hero accolade from the respected fast fit network, thanks to years of tireless work in her community.
She attended the final award ceremony in Birmingham where she was given a huge ovation, and some words of praise from Barcelona gold medalist Sally Gunnell.
Sally said: “The HiQ Local Hero campaign set out with the aim of unearthing a number of selfless people in local communities up and down the country, who work tirelessly for others and are not always recognised and appreciated for their efforts.
“As I look at Sandra Corcoran, it is safe to say that it has well and truly achieved its objective, so congratulations again.
“I have been privileged to receive recognition for my success on the athletics track, and it is wonderful to now be able to champion the work of Sandra, in a project that I have taken to my heart.
“You only narrowly missed out on the overall award but the work you have done – and continue to do – is just wonderful and I’m thrilled to be able to see you today and congratulate you.”
Runner- up Sandra Corcoran, whose nearest HiQ branch is in Slough on Bath Road, said: “It has been such a fantastic day and one I will never forget. Meeting the other finalists was a great pleasure, they are all so inspirational and I couldn’t believe I was there beside them.
“It was a shock to even have been selected so I’d like to thank everyone who voted.”
HiQ’s retail director Peter Tye said: “We are all delighted for Sandra. When we launched this campaign we wanted to honour the selfless people in our society who give so much time and energy for worthwhile causes, yet never wish for a thing in return.
“Sandra embodied this and we were all delighted to see her here.
“Our HiQ Hero campaign was huge for us and we were staggered by the amount of entries and the quality of those that entered.
“It has helped us position the HiQ fast fit network as a network of trust, with community heroes at each of our 150 centres nationwide.”
For more information about HiQ click on
http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/
Ends
Picture caption of Hero finalists - From Left to right: back row - Kevin Allen (Scunthorpe), Mohammed Amran (Bradford), Glyn Marston (Walsall), Sally Gunnell OBE, Jo Coles (Honiton), HiQ's retail director Peter Tye.
Front row: Wendy Shepherd (Middlesbrough), Jessie Griffin (Lanarkshire), Lesley Body (Deeside), Sandra Corcoran (Iver Heath),Becky Hurd (Worcester).
For more information please contact Ben Smallman or Becki Oake
