Rotherham United season ticket holder Gillian Headon has been shortlisted for the prestigious Tesco Mum of the Year Awards 2015.
Marking its 10th anniversary year, the awards celebrate the wonderful things mums do.
Gillian’s story was selected from thousands of nominations sent in by people all over the UK.
In 2006, mum of two, Gillian and her best friend Lyn Wilson organised a charity walk called Rush to Walk in memory of their friend, Sandra Rush who passed away from breast cancer in 2004. The first walk raised £24,000 and was donated to local charities including Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and the Rotherham Breast Screening Centre.
The annual event, which takes place in an around the Rotherham area, has raised more that £100,000 over the last seven years. Each year the funds are divided between local charities in the community. Sadly, in 2012, co-founder of the walk, Lyn passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Earlier this year, the 2014 Rush to Walk was organised in memory of long-standing volunteer Dorothy Weir, who also died from cancer last year. This walk was attended by more than 200 people, finishing three distances of a 25-mile circuit walk, a seven and half mile buggy-friendly walk or a three-mile walk and raised £9,700.
Gillian, who works as a hairdresser, ensures the charity trek takes place every year on May Bank Holiday. Commenting on the event Gillian said: “So many people and so many charities benefit from the money we raise. It is really heart-warming.”
If Gillian is selected by the judges to be one of the winning mums, she will be presented with her award in front of friends and family at London’s iconic hotel, The Savoy.