Incredible Pride of Britain Regional Winners and one could win ITV Fundraiser of the Year

These incredible charity heroes are all in the running for a Pride of BritainAward.Some are motivated by tragedy, others have overcome personal difficulty and some simply love fundraising for others. All have all gone the extra mile to make a difference to other people’s lives.

Their efforts have been recognised after viewers of ITV regional news programmes nominated exceptional fundraisers in their area.

Now 17 have been announced as regional winners - one of whom will be revealed as the overall winner of the ITV Fundraiser of the Year award at Pride of Britain 2025.

The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises honour the nation's unsung heroes, with a star-studded celebration screened on ITV in the Autumn.

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Kaz Jefferies, Llanelli, Camarthenshire

Since surgery left Kaz Jefferies, 54, profoundly deaf, she has dedicated more than a decade of her life to transforming Carmarthenshire Deaf Club into a thriving hub, supporting families across West Wales.

Devoting thousands of voluntary hours to service and advocacy, she has personally raised more than £66,000 - used to finance vital building improvements and create an accessible garden, now enjoyed by Deaf childrenand wheelchair users.

Currently leading a £60,000 renovation project to secure the club’s future, she also runs weekly free sign language classes, alongside youth groups, wellbeing sessions, and community events.

As well as organising fundraisers, she prepares meals for gatherings and provides one-to-one support for families and children.

Affectionately nicknamed “Deaf Grandma,” Kaz has challenged discrimination in public services and lobbied government for the recognition of British Sign Language.

She says: "I am passionate about my deaf community. We want to remove barriers. We want equality. We want to be seen.”

Philippa and Shaun Stirrup, of Denton, Tameside, Manchester

Philippa and Shaun Stirrup have devoted the two years since their six-year-old daughter, Milly, died at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital fundraising for support and equipment for hospital bereavement rooms - where parents can escape from the clinical setting to spend their final moments with their child .

Raising more than £80,000 through charity boxing matches, fun runs, and raffles, they have revamped a number of bereavement rooms across Greater Manchester- ensuring parents have access to a hand-casting kit, to create a clay mold of a child's hands - something they didn’t have for Milly.

“Milly loved helping people so I think she’d be super proud of what we’re doing,” said Shaun.

George Alderman, of Weybridge, Surrey

In October 2023, George Alderman, 39, lost his son Jimmy at just 7 weeks old, after he suffered a cardiac arrest while being breastfed in a baby sling.

At his inquest, the coroner concluded there had been a lack of public health information for the safe use of baby carriers, particularly for breastfeeding.

His parents and family were devastated but, determined that Jimmy’s death should not be in vain, George has helped raise more than £30,000 for south London’s St George’s Hospital, which tried to save Jimmy.

He’s launched Jimmy's Cuddle, which raises money to support bereaved families and advance baby safety reforms.

Thanks to his work with the Lullaby Trust, the National Childbirth Trust has changed their advice to parents, regarding sling and baby carrier safety.

“Jimmy was amazing. He was my little monkey. This is a way of celebrating his life.”

Alex Eades, Brighton, Sussex

Alex Eades’ daughter Charlotte was 16 when she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme - a fast-growing and rare form of brain cancer.

Keeping a video blog of her treatment, she dilligently raised awareness of young people’s cancer until her death in 2016, a week after her 19th birthday.

Now Alex is continuing to help young people having treatment in her memory, saying: “To see your child deteriorate, to see your son lose his sister and suddenly become an only child, it's devastating.

"I was very close to Charlotte - we did everything together and suddenly no more."

She helped start the charity Charlotte’s BAG - Charlotte’s Battle Against Glioblastoma - raising more than £335,000 by walking in Dorset, Devon, London and Sussex.

King’s College Hospital in London has used around £225,000 developing a laboratory and employing a scientist to help with whole genome sequencing of children with brain tumours and speeding up biopsies.

Aaron Beasley, Portsmouth, Hampshire

A close pal’s testicular cancer diagnosis inspired Portsmouth rugby player Aaron Beesley, 37, to launch the charity Rugby Against Cancer in May 2018.

Fundraising initiatives have included a Strictly Come Rugby competition, where players learned to dance.

"We make light of a really bad situation.We’ll never cure cancer, but what we can do is support people that are going through tough times," said Aaron.

Raising £60,000 for the charity in the last year, mostly by selling special Rugby Against Cancer socks, the charity also raises awareness of the disease at rugby clubs around the world.

The charity has also bought a respite home in Poole for people affected by cancer called 'The RAC Shack.'

Aaron’s friend Louise Morrow said: "When I lost my dad, the rugby community just held me together and Aaron in particular. He's the person you can guarantee will always be at the other end of the phone."

Nicola and Steven Wright of Pallister Park, Middlesbrough

Nicola and Steven Wright have raised over £37,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service, after their 13-year-old son Mason died following an off-road bike accident in 2021.

Mason was treated at the scene by the Great North Air Ambulance, who airlifted him to James Cook hospital - but sadly he did not survive.

Just months after his death, Nicola, 43, and Steven, 40, started sponsored walks called ‘Miles for Mason', bike rides, and other initiatives to give back to the charity that tried to help them.

Ben Sisson from the charity said: “They are truly saving lives - as well as leaving a legacy for Mason that will last a long long time.”

Joanne Harris, Lurgan

Joanne Harris, 62, launched the Knitted Knockers of Northern Ireland charity in Lurgan in 2016, after her friend had a mastectomy and found NHS supplied prosthetics too heavy and uncomfortable.

Discovering a charity called Knitted Knockers USA, Joanne brought the concept to Northern Ireland- where the charity provides special handmade 100% cotton, comfortable, washable prosthesis which, when placed in a normal bra, take the shape and feel of a real breast.

Joanne assembled a team of 74 volunteer knitters enabling Knitted Knockers to provide 5,000 prostheses free to women annually.

They can be used by women who have had a mastectomy, adjusted to fill the gap for uneven breasts and adapted for those going through reconstruction.

In 2017 Joanne also established “The Clubhouse” - a mental health and well-being initiative to establish creative and social programmes to help support breast cancer survivors - with a second venue planned. She says: “This is women helping women.”

Gill Brown, of Bridgewater

Known as “Mrs Bridgwater,” for nearly 20 years, Gill Brown, 81, has been a passionate fundraiser for theChildren's HospiceSouth West.

She began by stringing up lights in her garden and hosting a Santa disco alongside her husband Stuart.

And this grew into picnics in parks, themed nights and raffles - masterminded by a committee she leads, which has seen her raise almost half a million pounds.

Now just £35,000 off her fundraising goal, she continues determinedly, despite having terminal cancer and undergoing major surgery.

She says: “I’m not going anywhere. I have work to do.”

Rhys Wynne-Jones, Penzance, Cornwall

The mysterious "Night Church Pianist" Rhys Wynne-Jones was homeless when he sat down at a church piano one night and let his soul speak through the music.

A spontaneous video of his performance filmed and posted by the church warden went viral.

And it was suggested that Rhys should give a concert - which took place at the Cornish church where it all began.

As Rhys started telling his story, he launched a mission to help others in similar situations.

He has since performed sell-out concerts and recorded his own album, raising over £20,000 for people experiencing homelessness and mental health crises.

He hopes one day to have his own permanent home.

He says: “If I didn't have that purpose and want to help others I wouldn’t be here.”