Freddie McDonald

Nominated Category: Outstanding Courage Award

Freddie was born with a rare condition called Alagille Syndrome. He was very poorly as a baby, had a liver transplant five days after his 3rd birthday, followed by his first heart surgery. A year later, Freddie had another complex 16-hour heart surgery which led to him needing to be on intensive care on a life support machine for two weeks. He continues to receive life-saving treatment at Leeds Children's Hospital.

As part of The Leeds Bear Hunt, Freddie bravely shared his story displayed on the bear sculpture, Polar and planned a winning strategy to ensure he was the highest bidder of the bear at the auction. Freddie raised over £11,000 for the Leeds Children’s Hospital! Freddie has faced some extremely tough challenges from a very young age, but despite his challenges, Freddie is an inspiration, full of positivity and his courage is remarkable.

Steve Scupham

Nominated Category: Volunteer of the Year & Outstanding Courage Award

Steve has volunteered with Leeds Hospitals Charity for 8 years, since 2015. In March 2013 Steve was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Blood Cancer). He had his first stem cell transplant in November 2013 and in 2019, he was given a second stem cell transplant which was only partially successful. Steve has been part of 2 clinical trials and is currently undergoing his third treatment of 32 weeks of chemotherapy.

Although facing treatment on a weekly basis, Steve is determined to carry on his volunteering and to give back to Leeds Cancer Centre and supports other cancer patients that face the same journey. He volunteers two afternoons a week at our Merrion Centre charity shop and our charity shop in the Bexley Wing, the same site where Steve receives his treatment and where his volunteering journey began at the start of his diagnosis.

Despite these personal circumstances, Steve has always continued to support our volunteers, staff and the wider charity with his positive can-do attitude. His dedication and commitment to our charity cause is unquestionable and is someone who truly lives out the charity vision in all that he does.

Barbara Rider

Nominated Category: Local Fundraiser of the Year

Fifteen years ago, Barbara was invited to join The Yorkshire Cancer Centre Ball Committee and was absolutely determined to make a difference for the patients of Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Fifteen years later, and Barbara is now the Chair of The Leeds Children’s Hospital Ball Committee, she is still raising vital funds for Leeds Hospitals Charity and making a huge impact on young patients and their families.

In the time that Barbara has been part of The Yorkshire Cancer Centre Ball Committee she has helped raise over £1 million. Barabara’s commitment and efforts in continuously fundraising are truly inspirational, she has helped raise a phenomenal amount to support Leeds Teaching Hospital

Margaret Stead

Nominated Category: The Kate Granger Award for Outstanding Contribution & Inspirational Individual of the Year

Margaret was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 and was referred to Leeds Teaching Hospitals, where she was shocked to discover she would be receiving treatment on a mixed-sex ward. Despite undergoing treatment and a major operation, Margaret was determined to make a difference and began her campaign for Yorkshire’s first dedicated breast cancer unit. In the same year, Margaret founded Breast Cancer Research Action Group, a non-profit run by volunteers.

Within a few months, Margaret helped raise over £7,500 to help furnish the new unit, after canvassing support from the public, local MPs and health bosses. Margaret has retired from the group, a linked charity of Leeds Hospitals Charity and thanks to her spearheading the charity’s efforts, over £2 million has been raised to support breast cancer patients and fund life-saving research.

Despite Margaret’s personal battles her commitment and courage in supporting other women going through treatment is remarkable and she has created an incredible legacy that inspires many.

Jacqui Drake

Nominated Category: Inspirational Individual of the Year, Local Fundraiser of the Year & Outstanding Courage Award

Jacqui has stage 4 malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. She had surgery to treat melanoma in 1993, but 17 years later, the cancer returned. Since her second diagnosis Jacqui has had three operations to remove the cancer on her leg, but the cancer spread to her lungs and in 2015 her right lung was removed. She’s suffered colitis and pneumocystis and almost lost her life. 

After going through this traumatic experience, Jacqui set up her fundraising appeal ‘Jacqui’s Million’ in 2016, with the ambition to raise £1 million for Leeds Hospitals Charity to support people living with cancer across our region. 

Jacqui’s fundraising efforts are incredible and has made a huge difference to thousands of patients treated at the Leeds Cancer Centre each year. Her positive outlook on life is such a support to others during their difficult times, offering hope and positivity to patients and their families. 

LeedsBID

Nominated Category: Charitable Business of the Year

LeedsBID are committed to making Leeds a better place to live, work and visit. LeedsBID’s support and commitment to the Leeds Bear Hunt brought a sense of pride and community to the city during the summer of 2023. The free family fun art trail attracted thousands of visitors whilst raising money for Leeds Hospitals Charity, supporting Leeds Children’s Hospital. 

LeedsBID offered financial, advisory and logistical support throughout the trail and the outstanding results of the Leeds Bear Hunt would not have been achieved without their contribution and support to the charity.

Louise Prashad

Nominated Category: Outstanding Courage Award & Inspirational Individual of the Year

In 2016, aged only 21, Louise was diagnosed with a rare condition in pregnancy called AFLP – Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy. She collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Unfortunately, Louise and her husband would be told the devastating news that their twin babies, a son and a daughter, no longer had a heartbeat. Louise was also experiencing severe organ failure and had to undergo an emergency c-section with a 10% survival rate. Against all odds, Louise survived and was placed on the European organ transplant list – which, amazingly, Louise underwent a liver transplant only 8 hours later.  Following from this, she powered through the mental traumas of loss and grief. She had months of painful physio to follow, unable to walk and left with severe impairment.

In 2018 Louise channelled her grief into training for the York 10k and she has since ran over 250 races including the London Marathon and raised thousands for Tommys, The British Liver Trust, and NHS Organ donation. She is also part of the Leeds Adult Transplant Team achieving 3 gold medals in track and field, with an invitation to represent GB in the worlds. She has achieved so much despite being classed as disabled. Louise has also given birth to a further two amazing children. She is determined to live every day to the fullest in memory of her son, her daughter, and her wonderful donor, Sarah. Everyday Louise continues to inspire, support and make a real difference to the organ donation and child loss community. This year Louise plans to take on her first ultra marathon from Oldham to Leeds handing out organ donor cards to inspire passersby to talk to their loved ones about organ donation.

Unity - The After Cure Choir

Nominated Category: Community Arts Award

Unity - The After Cure Choir was set up by Consultant Clinical Oncologist Dr Michelle Kwok Williams and Heather Berry, Clinical Nurse Specialist, both part of the Long Term Follow Up Service at Leeds Cancer Centre.

The choir gives survivors of childhood, teenage and young adult cancer and other conditions the opportunity to come together in a safe space to sing, have fun and build new friendships. For many people who are part of the choir, it is about so much more than singing, it’s that peer support and connecting with people who have had similar experiences that is so important. Many of the members live with long term effects from their diagnosis or treatment but their support for each other and positive outlook is inspirational.

The choir meet weekly to rehearse and perform, fundraising for local charities, including Leeds Hospitals Charity. In 2023 Unity - The After Cure Choir raised over £3000 for Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Ian Flatt

Nominated Category: Outstanding Courage Award

Ian was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019, a disease for which there is currently no treatment or cure.

Ian’s determination to raise funds and awareness to help people living with MND has been inspirational, with incredible support from his wife Rachael and their two daughters. He has completed two 100-mile treks to raise funds to help people living with MND, and later took on another courageous challenge of scaling Snowdon in his off-road wheelchair.

Ian has always faced this condition with a sense of determination and has been committed throughout to being a vibrant and infectious support to others.

Leeds Hospitals Charity

Nominated Category: Charitable Excellence Award

Our mission is to support Leeds Teaching Hospitals in their aim to deliver the best care to patients and their families. We do this by working together with patients and their families, donors, fundraisers, volunteers, local businesses and other charities in order to raise additional funding.