Amazing local people nominated for Family Awards

A MOIRA father who lost one of his triplet sons six years ago, elderly Dunmurry grandparents who help to raise two young boys and an amazing Lisburn mother who works tirelessly for her disabled daughter are just a few of the finalists in this years NI4Kids Family Awards.

Sarah Hillis from Lisburn has been nominated the Mum of the Year category, John Greer from Moira is a finalist in the Dad of the Year, and Joe and Noreen Fegan are nominated in the Grandparent of the Year award and will attend a dazzling awards ceremony next Friday in the Titanic Building in Belfast where 13 awards are up for grabs.

Others who have been nominated include Martin and Claire Rimmer from Kip McGrath in Lisburn who are up for the Tutor of the Year award and Adventures Day Nursery Dunmurry in the Childcare section.

The Family Awards are run by NI4Kids magazine and supported by the Outlet Village Banbridge.

Nadia Duncan, editor of NI4Kids and event organiser said that they are thrilled with the level of interest and the number of entries.

She said: “There are lots of unsung local heroes who make a real difference to the lives of children and parents every day, whether in the line of duty or simply as a family member. These Awards are a great chance to give them a little of the recognition they deserve.

“We had hundreds of entries and our judging panel were faced with some tough decisions.”

All awards have been made through nomination by members of the public and the shortlist of finalists and winners was drawn up by an independent judging panel. There are 3 finalists in each category and the winners will be announced on the day.

Lisburn mother Sarah Hillis has been nominated by two people - Emmy Paul from Lisburn and Gail Green from Newtownabbey. Sarah suffered the heartbreak of losing her young son, looks after her disabled daughter and runs a support group for parents with disabled children and still has time for studies.

Emmy said: “While caring for her family Sarah has also managed to continue with her studies and is applying to become a teacher or a nurse. Sarah and her husband manage to care for their three children, one of whom requires carers every night of the week.

“Sarah is a constant support to a lot of other mums of sick and disabled children and holds a coffee morning when she can in her home for these parents to attend. Sarah is also a friend, and a very good friend at that, always supportive and at the end of the phone any time you need her.

“She is 100% dedicated to her children her family and her friends. She has a very loving home and is involved in many charity events and is a parent advocate for many parents of disabled children. Sarah never complains and gets on with life and everything it throws at her on a daily basis. I couldn’t think of anyone else more deserving of this award.”

Gail described Sarah as ‘one in a million.’

Gail said, “I met Sarah while my son was in our local hospital with Sarah’s daughter Hope. Sarah had four children but sadly her son passed away.

“Her daughter Hope has been in ICU more times than I can count and has spent a lot of her short life in hospital. Sarah and her husband split their time between looking after their children at home and hospital time with Hope. She is an inspirational friend who juggles looking after a disabled child who requires 24 hour care, her family, running a support group for parents with disabled children, studying to hopefully become a teacher, lobbying for children’s rights while being at the end of the phone if I ever need her. All I can say is she deserves to be the mum of the year.”

Moira mother Davina Greer, who lost one of her triplet sons Harry six years ago, has nominated her husband John for Dad of the Year.

Davina said: “After losing our youngest triplet in 2006, John took time off from work to look after not only our two surviving triplets but myself as I was suffering desperately after our loss.

“He is now almost finished his accountancy degree which he started after Harry died, he has secured himself a work placement in Dalefarm as a trainee accountant and has excelled in this.

“While studying for his degree, and helping look after Charlie who has cerebral palsy and is autistic, and Owen, who is also autistic, he has managed to work full time and also abseil down the Europa to raise money for the Royal Hospital.

“John gives so much and is such a devoted, husband and father. I would love for all that he has achieved in caring for our boys to be recognised.” Joe (81) and Noreen Fegan (73) have been nominated as Grandparents of the Year by their daughter Shauna Hewlett, from Dunmurry.

Shauna, who described them both as ‘wonderful’, said they have both worked tirelessly, helping her raise her two boys after the death of their father. Shauna’s husband died in 2007 from cancer leaving her to raise her two sons then aged four and nine alone.

“I cannot express how wonderful my parents have been,” she said. “We lived in Manchester, and a week after the funeral the three of us moved back to Belfast and lived in their house for a year.

“They even gave up their own bedroom to accommodate the three of us in the big room. Under their love and support, we started to recover.

“As Grandparents they are just wonderful and we are now building a new life (and home) where they continue to be a huge part of us coping.”

Shauna, who works as a nurse, said her father - who has health problems - takes her two boys to school every day.

“He is a role model to my boys, teaching them about life and how to be good and positive and do well in school,” said Shauna. “He gives them hugs when they are sad – and also never stops telling his silly jokes and stories, making us all laugh as a family again.

“My mum also has bad arthritis in her knee, but it doesn’t stop her from giving lots of cuddles and tickles, helping with their homework after school so that when I come home from work at 10pm, they have packed lunches ready, my youngest is in bed sleeping, and even my ironing is done.”

“They have given up so much at a time when they should be relaxing and having us run after them (as they so deserve) – but instead they have taken up another role in helping me bring up my boys, allowing me to work so I can provide a stable life and home for them, and all without asking for anything in return.”

Shauna said that her two boys are both happy and healthy and even allowed to watch their own programmes when they visit their grandparents.

“All this is only possible because of the support and the example of their grandparents,” she said. “Often the boys have to stay over their grandparents house, and instead of Countdown being on, which dad loves, they are handed the TV controls and Sponge Bob Square Pants is blaring instead. Mum and dad just sit back and enjoy their grandsons being happy.

“These last four years have been so hard for the boys without their dad who they miss him every day. So much hurt and loss could have damaged their lives permanently. The boys don’t see what they do because it is given them so freely. Mum and dad are the tireless team working behind the screens never getting any recognition, so that our lives run smoothly. I would love to give them centre stage for once and show them how much we appreciate everything they have done.”

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