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Paramedic who hosts Christmas dinner
for elderly reaches Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons final
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SOUTHPORT'S Sara Lace has been nominated
for the Community Champion award, as global hearing specialist Amplifon searches
for unsung heroes who represent:- 'The Best of British.'
Sara has served Christmas dinner for 40 elderly people at the fire station where
she's based since 2013. She was inspired to act after being sent on a call to an
elderly man just days before Christmas 2012 and learning he had no relatives to
share Christmas dinner with. Upset by the encounter, she approached her manager to ask whether they could use
the station's community rooms the following year and a tradition was born.
Colleagues put forward the names of people they'd like to invite and Sara asks
local businesses and community groups to donate food, gifts and money for the
event.
Paramedics and firefighters help on the day, peeling vegetables, decorating the
room and wrapping presents before serving dinner and playing bingo with their
guests. One member of the crew even dresses up as Santa to deliver presents.
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Sara was delighted to be nominated for the
Community Champion award. She said:- "So many emergency service staff are
on duty at Christmas and it's great to get them involved in the dinner. My mum
Flo and son James help out and, last year, James said it was the best Christmas
Day he'd ever had. I keep on fundraising to host the dinners because after
seeing how much the guests enjoy it I couldn't not do it again!"
Set up in honour of Amplifon's founder, 2nd World War hero Major Charles
Holland, the awards recognise courage and achievement in the categories of
Outstanding Military Bravery, Community Champion and Against All Odds. Animals
who have transformed the lives of their owners are honoured in the Hero Pet category.
The finalists will be judged by a panel including:- Falklands war veteran
Simon Weston, who is an ambassador for Amplifon.
Charles Holland was awarded both the MBE and the Military Cross and received the
Bronze Star from the United States Government in 1948 for his bravery behind
enemy lines during the 2nd World War.
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After the war, the courageous veteran
dedicated his life to providing better hearing for people affected by the
conflict and in 1950 launched Amplifon, which has become a global company
specialising in providing the best in class hearing solutions and devices.
Giuseppe Manzo, general manager for Amplifon UK and Eire, said:- "We
received some fantastic entries in the Community Champion category and the 4
finalists truly embody the heroism shown by Charles Holland."
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The winners will be announced at a ceremony, at the Army and Navy Club, London,
on Tuesday, 17 October 2017. A panel of judges will choose an overall winner of the Charles Holland Award
from the category winners, who will win a trip to Italy.
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