 The time has come once again to shout loud and proud about the unsung heroes of our community. Today we launch the search for the Evening Gazette's C ommunity Champions of 2004. We are asking you to tell us about those people who do something special for you, others or the wider community. Brian Lewis is held in highest esteem by all who meet him. In fact the 64-year-old of Redcar is an inspiration to many. He is of course modest about such praise. And the Teesside grandad says his only aim is to help others and provide what comfort he can. Brian has twice battled cancer. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1995 and despite appearing to beat it, it returned in September last year. Devastatingly he was told the cancer was inoperable but fortunately salvation came from a specialist surgeon in Leeds. To meet him today you would never believe he has faced such a battle. He is chairman of The Bowel Cancer Support Group and as such is always willing to lend a sympathetic ear to others. Even when he thought his own battle was lost he continued to support those struggling to come to terms with their own condition. His words have proved a tower of strength time and time again. His own experience enables him to have an understanding of how they are feeling like no other. Unsurprisingly Brian was named the Evening Gazette's Community Champion 2003, an honour which he described as "better than winning the lottery". "It was an honour and a surprise," he says. "It was humbling to see how many people, that are just ordinary people from the street, do so much for others. "To be nominated is wonderful. To win is a once in a lifetime thing." The title was bestowed upon Brian at a glittering award ceremony at The Swallow Hotel, Stockton, before a room full of Teesside's unsung heroes. The great grandad had been nominated by friends and staff from the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. Accepting the award he said: "If someone came up and said 'you have won the lottery' it couldn't come anywhere near how I feel now." He went on to say everybody in their life has been touched by cancer in some way. "When I go and meet these people and put my hands on someone's shoulder and say 'I know how you feel', I really do because I've been there." Brian's own battle has been a tough one. Since that ceremony in November he has undergone further surgery to remove a tumour. And the operation was closely followed by two heart attacks. Despite it all he still faces life with vigour and enthusiasm saying he has never been one to give up. "When I was told they could operate it was fantastic news," he says. "One minute you are getting used to the idea nobody can do anything then suddenly everything changes." Even the heart attacks failed to get him down and today he is fighting fit and recently appeared in the Celebration of Life After Cancer fashion show. Brian's story is an amazing one but it is just an example of the many inspirational people in Teesside worthy of recognition. Other 2003 award winners included Peter Howe, a grandfather-of-four from Normanby who has raised a staggering £1m for charity. Football fan Paddy Cronesberry was named Champion for the Disabled for his work as chairman of the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters' Association (MDSA). He helps arrange transport for football supporters who suffer from disabling conditions. He knows only too well the problems they face as he himself has congenital deformity, born without legs and just one full arm. And who could forget Jasmin Amelia Adam, Mohin Shadam and Ryan Preston. Our Champion Children of Courage? Each child's individual story moved the audience of more than 270 to tears. Jasmin, six, of Billingham, suffers from pulmonary hypertension, Ryan, six, of Hartlepool, suffers periodic fever syndrome, and Mohin, ten, of Acklam, has undergone 35 operations in his short life. Their presence at the ceremony met with rapturous applause especially when all three were named winners. Other titles bestowed during the prestigious ceremony included Champion For Community Sport, Champion for Youth, Champion for the Environment and Lifestyle, Champion Community Business, Champion Neighbour, Champion Community Group, Champion Teacher and Champion for the Elderly. Each and every winner and nominee proved a worthy contender. Now the time has come to do it all over again. Once again we are looking for the unsung heroes of our community and we need your help to find them. The Evening Gazette Community Champion Awards celebrate people's achievements and their astonishing willingness to put others before themselves. Page 2: Gazette's first ever community champ | 
