Your Champions nominee: Gillian Monteith

Aug 4 2010 by Daniel Bentley, Heswall News

HELP for Heroes is the nationally renowned charity for the British armed forces, but what about the heroes behind them?

Gillian Montieth is one such hero and it’s not just soldiers the 44-year-old from Greasby campaigns for.

In tribute to her hard work, Gillian has become one of the latest nominations for the Wirral News’ Your Champions search for local heroes.

She was nominated by Gillian’s proud mother Yvonne Westerman, 64, of Prenton.

As well as working as a voluntary fundraising co-ordinator for the forces’ charity, Gillian set-up a campaign to drastically improve the condition of Birkenhead Council’s dog kennels.

Dismayed by their standard she started Friends of Birkenhead Council Kennels to petition the council to improve facilities for its four-legged residents.

Gillian’s plans for the kennel include an exercise run for the dogs as well as roof windows to let more daylight in.

Yvonne said: “Gillian’s amazing. She gives so much to the community and she does it all on her own. She’s always crusading and collecting money.”

Gillian certainly is persuasive, even enlisting her mother on several occasions to help with her causes.

Her mother added: “She’s often had me on the high street with a trolley and a collection box helping to raise money!”

With her husband working in Iraq, Help for Heroes is very close to Gillian’s heart. One recent fundraiser she organised was a family day at The Swan Hotel, Prenton which brought forces’ families together and raised £3,000.

She said of the day: “We’re all in the same boat with our husbands away, we’ve all had our stomach churn when the phone rings wondering if it’s that call.”

Gillian has also been involved in fundraising for the Antony Nolan Trust and Claire House.

Amazingly Gillian does all this in addition to a full time job as an NHS administrator and looking after a daughter and three step children.

It’s hard to imagine where she finds the time.

Nominate someone for Your Champions at: http://tinyurl.com/yourchampions