By Ann Fotheringham

AROUND 250 women from all over the country will gather in the City Chambers tonight for the 53rd Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Awards.

In the stunning spectacular surroundings of Glasgow City Council’s grand banqueting hall, the 2015 winner of this prestigious event - supported by St Enoch Centre - will lift the trophy.

Tonight is the culmination of months of hard work and preparation, with hundreds of nominees having been whittled down to a final shortlist.

Last year’s winner, anti-sectarianism campaigner Cara Henderson will hand over the title to her successor in what promises to be an emotional and uplifting evening.

The finalists are Samantha Kinghorn, Jo Middlemiss and Maureen Burnett, Corinne Hutton, Professor Debbie Tolson and Adele Patrick.

Triple European champion wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn had an accident while helping her father clear snow on the family farm near the Berwickshire village of Gordon.

Crushed underneath a forklift, the teenager broke her back and was told she would never walk again.

She has gone on to achieve incredible success in her sport, including three gold medals in her first senior competition, a bronze at the World Championships and the likelihood of a place in the Olympics squad at Rio later this year.

Samantha said: "I will never forget my accident because it made me who I am today. I'm amazed to be on the SWOTY shortlist."

Jo Middlemiss and Maureen Burnett set up the Ethiopia Medical Project to help women suffering from prolapse following childbirth.

It’s a distressing condition that here in the west can be easily rectified - but in a remote community like Buccama the women can be ostracised by their husbands and see their condition as shameful.

Jo and Maureen fundraise all year before making the long journey to Buccama, where they roll up their sleeves and help out from dusk to dawn.

Jo said: "We have been inspired by the women in Buccama - they don't care who we are, what we do or where we come from, they are just glad someone has taken an interest in them. It is very humbling."

Maureen added: "We are thrilled to be SWOTY finalists, as it will mean more people will get to hear about the project."

Nurse and academic Professor Debbie Tolson is the inaugural Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at the University of the West of Scotland.

Her passion for improving services and care for people living with dementia goes way above and beyond her ‘day job’ – her hard work and determination has made a real difference to those living with dementia.

Debbie said: "My own experience nursing my late mother when she developed dementia made me realise just how hard it is for carers and families, and I have brought that understanding to my work with a passion."

Corinne Hutton, from Lochwinnoch, had her hands and feet amputated after suffering septicaemia in 2013 and vowed to help others facing similar limb loss or life-changing physical trauma.

She set up the charity Finding Your Feet almost three years ago and since then has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help others.

Corinne said: "The people who got me through this, from my parents and friends to the medical staff, were my support network - I just want to be that support network for others who are not as lucky as me. I'm proud to be a SWOTY finalist."

Adele Patrick founded Glasgow Women’s Library in 1991 and through her vision and hard work, gives women from the city and beyond a voice.

She has worked tirelessly for 25 years to develop the library into a multi-awardwinning internationally respected museum – the only museum dedicated to women’s history in the UK.

Adele has made a difference to the lives of thousands of Glasgow women.

She said: "I'm so honoured to be included in this shortlist of incredible women. The best bit about my job is hearing women who came through the library's doors 20-odd years ago say - yes, that course I did, or that event I came along to changed my life - it made me feel part of something again. It's the best job in the world."

RoBruce, executive editor of the Evening Times, said: “Scotswoman of the Year is a wonderful, uplifting and inspiring event - tonight will be no exception. Our sensational six finalists all deserve to win, and tonight promises to be a great celebration."