The Mumbler Community Award was developed to honour a person or group of people who are making significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents and dedication. This is someone who goes above and beyond to ensure that they help the community in their own special way.
As usual for this award, the winner of the Community Award category is not done on volume of votes, but instead chosen by a judging panel. This year our panel consisted of Harlan and Daniel from North Residential, Adam and Nick from Your Harrogate and Kayti, Evie and Sally.
It usually takes us hours to decide on a single winner, last year we couldn’t even do that and two deserving organisations won! But this year was different, this year we were all 100% in agreement.
Our Mumbler Community Award winner for this year went to the magnificent Mrs Sheena Blake .
Sheena sadly passed in the week before the awards. She was one of us, a local much-loved teaching assistant , a mother to two gorgeous girls and an adored wife and friend. It was an absolute privilege and honour to present this award, in Sheena’s honour, to her close friends Clare and Helen.
We have listed just some of the comments she received below, all comments were shared with her family before she passed away. Thank you to everyone who voted.
“She has demonstrated such courage since her diagnosis and has been determined to turn her situation into something positive by sharing her story – she’s raised over £10,000 for The Brain Tumour charity…a total inspiration to us all.”
“I have nominated Mrs. Blake (Sheena) because is the strongest woman I know. She has been diagnosed with Brain Tumour and besides that she has been determined to turn her situation into something positive which is “The Brain Tumour Charity”- a total inspiration to us all.”
“Mrs Blake was already an outstanding teacher and my daughter adores her. However after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour she has proven herself to be truly inspirational. She has dedicated herself to raising awareness and £10 000 for the brain tumour charity. She has inspired students parents and teachers at western including my own daughter with what can be achieved in the face of adversity!”
“Sheena Blake is an amazing person. I was fortunate enough to work alongside her this year; she is a stand-out teaching assistant who is kind, caring, patient, hard-working and bloody good fun to work with! At the beginning of this summer, Sheena received a devastating diagnosis – she has a Grade 4 brain tumour which is inoperable and which there is no cure for. Sheena has approached this diagnosis with nothing but strength, courage and determination – she is determined to turn her situation into something positive and has been working tirelessly to raise awareness and to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. In a matter of months, she has raised over £10,000; she has shared her story on social media, connecting with other cancer sufferers in our community to form a support group; she has shared petitions to increase Government investment in brain tumour research; she has shared information about clinical trials and encouraged others to research available treatments – she is spreading the word, always thinking of others whilst being an amazing role-model to her two children 15 and 12. There is no doubt that Sheena deserves the Harrogate Mumbler Community Award – the world needs more Sheenas!”
“Mrs Blake was my daughters TA whist she was in reception, sadly earlier this year she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Since then she’s been determined to raise as much awareness and money for charity. I think to do this whilst going through something so awful – she has her own family, shows what type of woman she is. Always wanting to give back to her community – very proud of her and would love for her to be recognised for what she’s done this last year.”
If you would like to donate to The Brain Tumour Charity please head over to Sheena’s Just Giving page.
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated this year. This is such a special award, if your name is on the list – a big thank you for all you do for our community.
