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The
Pride of Britain Award Winners 1999
with a host of celebrities including
the Prime Minister Tony Blair, Queen Noor of Jordan,
Richard Branson and Sir Bobby Charlton
Many of us who
work for charity, do not do it for the recognition but because
we enjoy and believe in what we do. I am one of those people.
When I was told that I had been short-listed for an award
from the Mirror as part of their ‘Pride Of Britain
Awards. I was overjoyed to have been short listed from thousands
nominated. To eventually find out that I had won, left me
for once in my life speechless. I felt very honoured to
have been chosen and recognised for doing something I enjoy
.
The ceremony on May 20th 1999 which also happened to be
Fable's 4th Birthday, was held at the Dorchester hotel in
London and was the most star-studded occasion one could
ever imagine. I was actually sat next to Barbara Windsor
for lunch with Michael Barrymore behind me.
Photos of the winners were taken before the ceremony started
and gave each and everyone of us the opportunity to meet
the Prime Minister Tony Blair, Richard Branson the boss
of Virgin and the very beautiful Queen Noor of Jordan. Many
more celebrities were there for the photographs including
Lennox Lewis, Sir Bobby Charlton, two of the Spice Girls,
Ronan Keating from Boyzone and the editor of the Mirror
Piers Morgan.
I found it strange to sit there and listen while Carol Vordeman
spoke about Gareth, Fable and me. Our plans for the future
and what we had achieved in four years. She was the most
marvellous presenter. As the time grew nearer to collect
the award I became more and more nervous, to have to walk
through a host of celebrities to reach the stage, where
David Ginola the footballer, was waiting to present the
award to me. It was an awesome feeling but the adrenaline
keeps you going, you are on such a high it is unbelievable.
I knew that I needed to keep calm to deliver my thank you
speech but
the strange thing is that after I had given it I could not
remember what I had said.
I had the most wonderful day, one I will never forget.
All the publicity for Fable is invaluable, we can only hope
that the news will have reached a lot more people, who did
not know about Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy and Fable.
I am grateful to the Mirror and Virgin for the honour of
being chosen as Charity Fundraiser of the Year, for all
their hospitality. To be part of the first ever Pride of
Britain Awards, to stand along side the other winners, some
of who left you feeling very humble. I am proud to be apart
of it all.
I was also glad that my friend and colleague Sandra Lindley
who helped me set up the charity was there to share the
moment with me along with my husband.. Without their support
and everyone else who has given of their time and loyalty
to help fable grow over the last four years, we would not
now be the established charity we now are.
Sandra Howard - Founder
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