FOR someone who has been raising money for charity for only a few years, Moira Bradley has done pretty well.

Her mobile contains the numbers of some famous faces - people she can contact when she's got another high-profile event in mind and needs prizes to match.

She has met Take That's Mark Owen, model Penny Lancaster, Ronan Keating, Lorraine Kelly and Sophie Ellis-Bextor and danced with Sir Tom Hunter. She's also got John Smeaton and the Macdonald Brothers coming into her T-Mobile workplace in Greenock soon as a way of thanking her colleagues for their help in raising funds.

So far, Moira has raised £40,000 for Radio Clyde's Cash for Kids and, in the space of just a year, another £10,000 for Greenock's Ardgowan Hospice.

The 38-year-old has done all of this while running a busy household and working full-time as a customer services adviser.

What makes her extra-special is that she's done it despite having considerable health problems of her own.

Moira, mother to Amanda, 18, and eight-year-old Lee, has a hole in her heart, not to mention a rare genetic disorder that can put her at risk of potentially fatal blood clots.

"It doesn't stop me in any way," says Moira. "Even when I have to go into hospital I'm still trying to organise things for other people.

"Sometimes people tell me that I should slow down and I say I know I should. But I can't."

Now her husband Douglas and daughter Amanda have put her forward for the individual category in the Local Heroes Awards 2008.

Among the glittering prizes she has auctioned off are a football boot donated and signed by David Beckham and tickets for a Glasgow Hilton dinner last year with Hans Blix, former UN chief weapons inspector, and Al Gore, former US vice-president and a leading voice in the climate change movement.

"I auction off big prizes like these at the Cash for Kids lunches and balls because you tend to get a lot of high-spending business people there," she says.

With a laugh, she adds: "It was restaurateur Satty Singh who gave me the Hans Blix tickets. He'd offered a meal for two at his restaurant but I said, Come on Satty, anyone can get a meal anywhere'.

"He said, Well, how about dinner with Hans Blix and Al Gore?' and I said, Fine, I'll take that'.

"As it turns out, we raised £5000 for Cash for Kids through it. The businesswoman who won thought it was only one ticket, but when I told her it was two and that she could take her husband, she was over the moon.

"She asked if I had a business card and other people have asked the same thing but I tell them I don't have anything like that... I'm just me, really. I just collate the prizes. That's all I do.

"It's quite easy to get my hands on prizes like that.

I think I've built up a good rapport with business people and it also helps I'm raising funds for something as well-known as Cash for Kids.

Moira's now in the position where she can ring up people such as Satty and bra tycoon Michelle Mone and ask for their help. "No bother," is the usual reply.

"Early on I did a fundraising Ultimo fashion show in Greenock and Michelle gave us lots of her massive promotional banners and lots of underwear and nightwear, and I got the girls at work here to model it all. I love doing that sort of thing."

Her very first charity show, less than five years ago, came about when she heard about Cash for Kids on Radio Clyde.

"We'd been looking to do a fun day at T-Mobile and I suggested doing it for Cash for Kids. I did all the organising and got prizes from companies in Greenock and we raised about £4000.

"I thought it had been a great success and contacted Cash for Kids so we agreed to make it a yearly event. I love it doing it. It's absolutely brilliant.

"I think I'm all the happier for it," she adds. "I love kids. I've got two of my own and to know that the £40,000 is going to under-privileged kids is just brilliant.

"It makes me happy that I can help them, even in just a little way."

Asked whether there's one item she'd really like to auction, she pauses for a minute before saying: "I'd love to be able to auction off a car or something like that - a car might raise as much as the Hans Blix dinner."

Moira, of Greenock, has an impressive list of contacts at her fingertips, but one celebrity has eluded her so far. She is a big fan, and has a portrait of him by her computer at home.

"Ally McCoist," she says. "That's one person I haven't met yet!"

Judging by what Moira has achieved over the last few years, you wouldn't bet against her meeting the Rangers legend sometime soon... ideally, when he's delivering to her a car that some kind soul has donated for her next big auction. Enter our Local Heroes Awards now

THE search is on for remarkable nominees in the 20th annual Evening Times Local Heroes Awards in a range of categories. The winning groups will be presented with a commemorative award and £3000 towards the work of their project.

GROUP AWARDS

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD will be presented to a group/project which tackles key community issues or which works towards improving community life.

Nominees include: Value in Volunteering, Glasgow - works with individuals who volunteer as classroom assistants, drivers, etc.

Bellsbank Women's Project, Ayrshire - first-step classes and activities for adults living in the community.

New Farm Loch @ 40, Kilmarnock - organising events to mark 40th anniversary of local community Drumpark School, Baillieston - for pupils aged 3-18 with complex learning difficulties and/or social and emotional difficulties Greater Pollok Carers Centre - creative writing group Alma - Muirhead group - weekly youth club run by Pat Ferry for local children, some of whom are disabled.

THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD targets groups/projects which promote the improvement of the health and well-being of specific groups or individuals within communities. This could include initiatives in the fields of drug education, mental health, community safety, sport or primary health care promotion.

Nominees include: Breastfeeding Network, Ayr - supports breastfeeding women via hospital visits and telephone helpline Greater Pollok Thursday Group - support group of carers and ex-carers Glasgow South-west Carers Centre, Govan - provides social, financial and emotional support for unpaid carers THE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AWARD will be presented to a group/project whose objectives are to challenge and change inequalities within society and work towards making society more inclusive. This could involve initiatives which tackle bigotry, racism or prejudice towards people with disabilities.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

A number of Local Heroes individual awards will be made to recognise the personal effort of individuals who work hard at improving the world around them. Whether they're campaigning for better services, tackling key health issues, cleaning up their communities or addressing inequalities, it's their invaluable contribution that we want to honour.

Winners of the individual awards will receive a commemorative award and a certificate.

Nominees include: Diane McWilliam, Glasgow - part-time community development worker and full-time community/local volunteer in Whiteinch Sarah Findlay - manages Starter Packs charity, which donates household items to people who have been homeless and are getting new homes Graeme Lightbody - keepie-uppie champion who has raised thousands for charities

YOUNG HEROES AWARDS

We're searching for Young Heroes in each of the categories - Breaking Down Barriers, Community Spirit and Health and Wellbeing.

The Young Heroes are groups of young people aged 17 and under who are determined to improve our communities' better places to live.

Eligible groups include: voluntary youth groups, uniformed organisations, community groups or schools, working on short or long-term projects.

Recipients of the Young Heroes Award will be presented with a cheque for £500 and a commemorative trophy. THE Local Heroes Awards are organised by the Evening Times, in partnership with BAE Systems, East Ayrshire Council, Glasgow City Council, North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Warburtons.

David Crawford, service director for social work at Glasgow City Council, said: "The council is very pleased to continue its sponsorship of the Local Heroes Awards in 2008.

"Last year we hosted the event in the City Chambers and were delighted that one of the main awards went to the West Glasgow Local Area Co-ordination Reference group, while Glasgow nominees also won Young Heroes and individual awards.

"We're keen to see increased nominations from the city this year.

"The awards present a great opportunity for communities to nominate groups and individuals who do so much to make a difference." The 2008 awards ceremony will take place at The Park Hotel, Kilmarnock, on March 26.