This week, we’re focusing on three great examples of those families, in the countdown to our Broons Awards finale.
The finalists in our Inspirational Families category, supported by Semichem, are simply marvellous.
We’re sure you’ll agree they more than deserve their moment in the spotlight at our glittering Broons Awards ceremony on March 10, hosted by Lorraine Kelly.
Cat and Adrian Scripps – Community champions
Many lucky communities have one special person who is the driving force in organising events and fundraising for the benefit of others.
In Ballater there are two – Cat and Adrian Scripps.
When Ballater was hit by two bad fires and flooding last year they rallied the community, encouraging everyone to focus on the positive and carry on with morale-boosting events and fundraising.
Many in Ballater believe that without them, there wouldn’t be as much of a community spirit.
Adrian is modest about their nomination.
“We’re not sure we deserve it looking at some of the other nominees,” he says. “We mostly mess about and sometimes folk join in!
“Occasionally loads of people do – I always think of it as throwing snowballs from the top of a hill.
“Sometimes you hit a tree and nothing happens, but every now and then you cause a massive snowball which everyone gets caught up in!”
Cat and Adrian are involved in organising Ballater Victoria Week and Adrian says it’s great fun. “I think my highlight last year was I having a stressful time trying to get a sound system to work. I looked up and realised the local bishop was ignoring what was going wrong – he was too busy blessing our duck race in front of hundreds of spectators!”
Andy and Jennifer Gill – Supporting kids with cancer
WHEN Andy and Jennifer Gill lost baby son Oliver to a rare and aggressive cancer in 2010, they were determined some good would come out of it.
They established the charity LoveOliver, which offers practical support to families of children with cancer and funds vital research into childhood cancers.
In short, when others might have fallen to pieces after such heartache, they’ve made sure the memory of Oliver lives on as a force for good.
Happily, Andy and Jennifer, of Leven, have gone on to have two other children. But LoveOliver continues to thrive – in less than five years, they have raised more than £310,000.
“We see what we’re doing as our way of continuing to be the best parents we can to Oliver, so to be nominated for the Broons Awards is really humbling,” says Andy. “It’s great to be recognised as it’s keeping Oliver’s story going.”
While Andy and Jennifer have both achieved so much, Jennifer says life changed forever with Oliver’s passing.
“After Oliver died, we could not have gone back to life as it was before. Oliver’s courage and smile and the bravery of the many other amazing children affected by cancer and their families, inspires us to do all we can.”
Jill Cockburn – Supermum!
Having one child with a serious illness would be hard enough for most parents.
Jill Cockburn has three children, all with serious health problems. Son PJ had a liver transplant when he was a baby and still has regular hospital appointments.
Daughter Aimee had a tumour on her collarbone.
Other daughter Hannah also has health problems which require monthly injections.
Jill, of Falkirk, keeps positive no matter what life throws at her, insisting she’s just like any other mum.
And she also manages to help others within the community. Recently she found time to clean the house of a man with alcohol problems who was struggling.
In short, we think she’s a bit of a supermum!
Jill herself isn’t having any of it and can’t believe she has made the shortlist of the Broons Awards. “I’m flabbergasted,” she laughs. “There are other people out there far worse off than me and doing so much more than me.”
Jill and husband Paul have had undoubtedly tough times to cope with.
“We’re a family with great faith and that helps.
“Once when we saw a consultant he said PJ had a month to live unless he got a transplant,” she says.
“I replied there were stronger hands than his looking out for him.”
High street favourite Semichem is delighted to be a supporter of The Broons Awards and the Inspirational Families category. “Everyone at Semichem is delighted to be a part of The Broons Awards and in particular to hear the stories of those inspirational families from within our communities,” says the company’s Kimberley Guthrie.
“The shortlisted finalists, along with all of the entrants, should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. We look forward to the awards celebration
in March.”
READ MORE
Our family heroes looking to make the world a better place
The community heroes making a difference to the lives of others
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