She was crowned Glasgow’s best neighbour at last year’s grand final of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards.
And today, as we launch our search to find other unsung heroes of the south-west, Donna Foote said the experience still didn’t seem real.
The search in the Greater Pollok and Newlands area will finish the second year of our campaign to honour the people who make Glasgow champion.
The 42-year-old mum-of-five from Priesthill said: “It’s an achievement, but it never actually sunk in.
“The housing association, Sanctuary, that I’m a tenant of think it’s fantastic that one of their residents was the overall Glasgow Neighbour award-winner.
“Obviously you don’t do these things to get that recognition, but the fact that people are recognising that local residents are trying their best to improve services is an achievement.”
The success of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards relies on readers telling us about the people who make their areas shine.
The final stage of our search covers Pollok, Newlands, Cathcart, Pollokshaws, Mansewood, Priesthill, Househillwood, Arden, Carnwadric, South Nitshill and Darnley.
If you know of an outstanding individual, brilliant charity, dedicated senior citizen, brave young person or remarkable public service worker then fill in an entry form today.
You can call us and we’ll post out a form to you, or you can nominate by downloading a form from our website.
All entries much reach us by next Friday, August 6.
The event will take place in the historic surroundings of Pollokshaws Burgh Hall on Pollokshaws Road on Thursday August 19.
It’s a chance to chat to representatives of the awards partners over refreshments and acknowledge the contribution of the city’s army of local heroes.
Last week, the residents of the north-east raised the bar high by turning out in force to our event at Springburn Community Fire Station.
Donna Foote picked up her glittering glass trophy at an event held at Pollok Community Centre in August last year, which also hailed the contributions made by team winners Pollok Credit Union and saw staff from Pollok Country Park pick up a finalist certificate in the public service team category.
Yet Donna Foote’s journey in the campaign progressed even further, as she went on to pick up the overall, city-wide title at the gala reception at the City Chambers in October.
And the south-west punched above its weight in the grand final – as St Paul’s High Community Volunteers were named the overall young winners.
The Glasgow Community Champion Awards were launched in October 2008 as a partnership between Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow City Council and the Evening Times.
All winners from across the city will be invited to a glittering ceremony at the City Chambers in October.
YOUNG CASE STUDY: REECE BARRIE
All parents think their child is one in a million – but Joann Barrie has more reason than most to believe it.
Every day her 11-year-old son Reece battles a rare combination of health problems that make him extra special.
The youngster from South Nitshill has an immobilising spinal condition, Reece Brown Syndrome, named after him and the surgeon who carried out his life-saving operation.
Every day he copes with a powerful daily cocktail of painkillers, regular vomiting, choking on food and impaired movement and speech.
Despite missing around 50% of his school hours in Primary 7, he’s determined to make the grade when he starts S1 at St Ninian’s High in Giffnock in August.
Joann said: “He’s accepted now that he needs a wheelchair when he wouldn’t accept that before.
“The teacher said any other child would be struggling but when Reece is there he tries so hard. He’s just really been struggling with the pain.”
Reece has extra bones in his back, some of which may need to be “chipped away” through operations to prevent them growing into vital organs.
He has scoliosis (a curvature of his spine), spondylitis (arthritis of the back), and hypoglossal nerve palsy that continues to affect the movement of his tongue and speech.
In June 2006 Reece underwent a major operation to stabilise his neck: two ribs were inserted into the top of his spine along with a metal wire.
His family cherish photos of the former pupil of St Angela’s Primary in Darnley riding a bike while wearing the ‘halo frame’ that was bolted into his spine for four months.
His condition worsened over Christmas and he now uses a wheelchair around 90% of the time.
The Barrie family and friends last year launched an appeal to raise funds to send Reece to a leading children’s hospital at Harvard Medical School in Boston, which is renowned for its pioneering spinal surgery.
Reece’s sister Miren, nine, is one of the Pollok Young Carers’ Team at the Greater Pollok Carers’ Centre.
Joann added: “Obviously he’s mine so I’m going to say he’s the bravest in the world, but anybody you ask will tell you the same about Reece.
“I don’t know where he gets his attitude or nature. No matter how much pain he’s in he’ll still try and get up in the morning.”
THE CATEGORIES
We are looking for nominations for Glasgow’s community heroes in each of the following categories:
INDIVIDUAL AWARD
We want to hear inspirational stories of people who give up free time to make a significant contribution to other people’s lives or to a community.
TEAM AWARD
This recognises the life-enhancing work of community teams, organisations, charities or a group of volunteers.
PUBLIC SERVICES INDIVIDUAL AWARD
This will be presented to people working for a public service in a local community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
PUBLIC SERVICES TEAM AWARD
This is for a remarkable public service team that has made an outstanding contribution to help those they serve.
SENIOR COMMUNITY CHAMPION
A local hero from the 60-and-over age group who, after many years of hard work, continues to devote much of their time to helping other individuals or groups in their community.
YOUNG COMMUNITY CHAMPION
We’re looking to find teams or individuals aged 17 and younger who have shown inspirational behaviour, perhaps through incredible fund-raising projects or acts of bravery.
HOW TO ENTER
To download a Glasgow Community Champion Awards entry form, go to www.eveningtimes.co.uk and follow the link from the Community section. Or call/email: Victoria Scott on 0141 302 7319, or victoria.scott@heraldandtimes.co.uk, to request a form.
You can also write to: Glasgow Community Champions Awards, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB.
