Winners at this year’s Active Burnley Awards have gone on to win county-wide recognition for their community achievements.
The awards pay tribute to individuals who work tirelessly to support people and clubs in the local area, purely for the love of the sport or their community.
Burnley Lifetime Achievement Award winner Chris Keene, and Liberty Heap, who was named the borough’s Young Achiever of the Year, both triumphed again at the Active Lancashire Awards as did the Burnley Health and Wellbeing Award winner Justine Taylor.
Pendle Forest Pioneers, winners of the Burnley club of the year award, was highly commended in the county category.
Community, sport and wellbeing activist Chris was named Lancashire’s Lifetime Achievement award winner for his tireless work to improve the lives of those living in the southwest of Burnley for more than 35 years.
He said: “It’s very humbling to receive an award of this type from your peers, I am very grateful.
“I’ve spent 40 years living and working in our community and it may be poor, but it’s full of inspirational and resilient individuals and families who support each other through thick and thin.
“I’m truly blessed to have found a place in a community that has so many people who dedicate their lives to the health and wellbeing of others.
"None of us achieve anything on our own and I’m proud to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers who never give up.”
Liberty, meanwhile, was named the county’s Young Achiever of the Year in recognition of her cricketing success that has most recently seen her named in the England squad for the inaugural ICC Under-19s Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa in January 2023.
The Burnley-born all-rounder has now taken a year out of education to concentrate on her cricket.
She is part of the 15-strong squad travelling to the historic tournament billed as a showcase for the future stars of the women’s game with 16 teams competing in 41 matches next January.
Liberty said: “It feels unreal to have achieved something that I’ve worked towards and dreamed of for over 10 years by making it into an England side, but it’s also surreal being a part of a new step forward for women’s cricket.”
Justine was named Lancashire Health and Wellbeing champion for combining her own love of physical activity with encouraging others to follow suit.
She was recognised for leading a twice-weekly running club, volunteering at the Padiham junior park run as well as raising thousands of pounds for charity.
During the pandemic, Justine helped to sustain the physical and mental health of her daughter Olivia, who has special needs, by having a simple exercise video created to keep her active while her day centre was closed.
All the Active Burnley winners went forward to the Active Lancashire Awards, to pit their achievements against those chosen from similar recognition awards throughout the county.
This year’s event at the Burnley Mechanics Theatre was hosted by iconic underdog Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, who captivated the nation with his exploits at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada, where he came last in the 70m and 90m ski jumping contests but won national admiration for his determination to overcome adversity and compete in the first place.
Organisers at BLC are now working on the 2023 awards due to be held next July, with news of next year’s host due to be announced soon.
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