Your Champions: Meet your Wirral Champions – our five finalists announced

Oct 17 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

MEET your Wirral Champions – our finalists have been announced!

Our judges had a tough time deliberating over the many worthy nominations but have picked Hazel Roberts, Danielle Lowe, James Sadler and Paul Davis as Wirral finalists. There are two winners in the team category as it was so strong – Northern Lights and Moreton Cancer Research shop.

Our champs will be honoured at a presentation ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester next month – joined by other regional winners in the running for a champion of champions award.

SPORTING CHAMPION: DANIELLE LOWE

Despite suffering from severe asthma and an allergy to chlorine, Danielle Lowe, of Bebington, didn’t give up on her dream of becoming a professional swimmer.

Twice the teen has fought back from serious illnesses – swine flu in 2009 and glandular fever last year which cost her a place in the London Olympics.

Now 17, she is training for a place at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

YOUNG PERSON: JAMES SADLER

Nineteen-year-old student James Sadler from Heswall is committed to help find a cure of deadly disease which claimed his dad’s life.

Last October his dad Ernie lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, aged 63.

James has been training for the Chester marathon and now the Manchester marathon in April.

He has raised over £1,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

VOLUNTEER CHAMPION: HAZEL ROBERTS

Seventy-three-year-old great-grandmother, Hazel Roberts is involved in many organisations in the area and helps run a trampoline club for children.

She volunteers for a co-operative where locals can buy fresh goods for £3 a bag.

Hazel is secretary of Wirral Heart Beat, based at St Catherine’s Hospital and has always volunteered as far back as she can remember.

PERSON: PAUL DAVIS

For the last three years Paul Davis, of Bromborough, has been committed to raising money for two charities close to his heart – Help for Heroes and Troop Aid.

He was prompted after visiting his friend in a military hospital. He has run two half-marathons.

Paul, 36, also organises an annual charity dinner which has so far accrued nearly £20,000.

TEAM CHAMPION: NORTHERN LIGHTS

Formed 25 years ago, Neston children’s charity, Northern Lights, is run by nine volunteers.

The charity gives youngsters with a life threatening illness the chance to go on holiday to a luxury resort in Lapland and meet Father Christmas.

TEAM CHAMPION: MORETON CANCER RESEARCH SHOP

The Cancer Research shop on Hoylake Road has been open for 23 years and during this time have raised nearly £2 million.

The team was led by Sue Hickey, who with nine volunteers, worked at the store from the day it opened.