The Guide Liverpool Heroes: Meet the heroes shortlisted for our Make a Difference Award

The Guide Heroes awards are all about putting the spotlight on incredible people and organisations in our region, and the Make a Difference Award shortlist features six of the very best.

There are 15 categories at The Guide Liverpool Heroes which include Sports Hero, Child of Courage, Emergency Services and the City Region n Superhero.

One category that we know will really inspire people in the room is the Make A Difference Award sponsored by Radisson Red Liverpool.

There were so many outstanding nominations, all people who really make our city proud with what they’ve achieved, but ultimately these were the ones that stood out.

All six have showed tremendous bravery and determination to create something positive after facing huge personal challenges and often tragedy.

One, chosen by a public vote, will be presented with the overall award at our ceremony at Titanic Hotel on Friday November 21, but each of them deserves special recognition, so here are our six Guide Heroes Make a Difference finalists.

Tim Edwards & John May

Liverpool actor and comedian John May and grieving dad Tim Edwards formed a unique bond when they walked from Lands End to John O’Groats together in a campaign to try and put an end to gun and knife crime. Tim’s daughter, 26-year-old Elle Edwards, was killed in a shooting outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey on Christmas Eve 2022. Their story of unexpected brotherhood, and finding support and humour in the darkest of times, has since been made into a documentary film, The Two Of Us.

Joanne Colleran

It’s 11 years since Joanne Colleran’s son Bobby was killed in a road accident while walking home from school in West Derby. Despite being devastated by the loss of her funny, football-loving six-year-old, mum Joanne was determined to create a legacy in his name by making roads safer for all children. A Slow Down for Bobby campaign has seen 20 mph safety zones introduced around schools across the UK and fundraising allowed them to open Bobby’s Base, a unique health and wellbeing centre for children.

Kieran Shingler

While bravely battling a brain tumour, 26-year-old Kieran Shingler set himself a challenge of climbing 12 summits in 12 months for Wirral-based Ahead of the Game Foundation cancer rehab programme. He managed to climb The Old Man of Coniston, Mam Tor, Moel Famau and Snowdon, before being told in June this year that he needed further chemotherapy. Since setting up Kieran’s Krew after his diagnosis in 2022, Kieran, his family and friends have raised over £52,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity and other charities.

Cheryl Korbel

Like Tim and Joanne, Cheryl Korbel faced the unimaginable tragedy of suddenly losing a child. Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was an innocent victim, fatally shot at her own home in Dovecot in August 2022. Cheryl’s bravery after the incident saw her and her family help bring about national change for all victims of crime. After two years of campaigning for a change in the law to force criminals to appear in court for sentencing, earlier this year a new bill giving extra powers was introduced in Parliament.

Alfie Fitzsimmons

Alfie's Squad - The Guide Liverpool — Alfie Fitzsimmons – Alfie’s Squad

Now 16, Alfie Fitzsimmons was just nine years old when he and mum Allison Furlong set up Alfie’s Squad after losing his dad to suicide a year earlier. The CIC offers support and activities which provide a lifeline for children and families whose loved ones have taken their own life, showing kids they’re not alone in what they’re going through. Since launching in 2017, Alfie’s Squad has helped hundreds of families, so much so that it has recently expanded to offices in the Baltic Creative to meet a growing demand.

The Guide Liverpool Heroes is brought to you by Liverpool Cruise Port in partnership with San Carlo Restaurants, and the Make a Difference Award is sponsored by Radisson Red Liverpool.