OVER the next few days we will be publishing our interviews with the winners at this year's Pride of St Helens Award.
We have a 16-page supplement of the awards night complete with all images and the interviews for sale in shops across St Helens inside this week's St Helens Star, all costing just 80p.
The next award interview is that of Kevin Donachie, who won the Community Business Hero Award.
WHEN Kevin Donachie was named the award winner in the Community Business Hero category, the room on the night of the awards was filled with rousing applause.
That goes to show the impact dad-of-two Kevin has had on the lives of children in St Helens.
Kevin, from Haydock, is the owner of Cleanhire Industrial and both he and the company make a huge effort to support junior sports teams through donations and sponsorships.
They also help with charity events in the borough. Despite this, Kevin was very emotional on the night and "shocked" at his win.
The 58-year-old said: “It’s really special to win this really because I don’t do what I do at all for any recognition.
“The business is doing well and I’m in a position where I can help and so I do but I appreciate how lovely it is that we as a business get recognised and that does mean a lot that.
“I think sports, particularly for kids, is really important, it gives people who may not always have a place to thrive and get support to have that opportunity as well as learning key sport and life skills.
“When I was a kid playing football, you might have been useless, but when someone sponsored you and you had that new kit on and you went out for that first game of the season you’ve won the league because you feel like someone has faith in you.
“That’s what it’s all about for me, I’m nothing compared to some of the people whose stories have been shared at this awards, it’s not a bad town we’ve got here. We need to be proud of those in it and help where ever we can when we can.
“People are too quick to put St Helens down, but nights like tonight show exactly how much people have to be proud of coming from St Helens.
“Not for the likes of me, I just do what I do because I can but some of those stories tonight had me crying with pride. And that’s what it’s about. Come on everyone be proud of our St Helens.”
Highly commended in this category were Mike Garner (Evolution Fitness), and Steve Roberts (Communications Plus).
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