It’s time to nominate your local heroes for the Pride in Medway awards which are launched today.

We want to hear about the people who have impressed you: do you know someone whose efforts keep a community group going? Someone who gives up their spare time to raise money for charity? Or maybe a brave child coping with disability or illness?

It’s time for them to have their moment in the spotlight.

Last time, we received about 70 nominations for people across the Towns. The overall winner was Anita Marinelli, a Gillingham mum who put her life on hold to lead a fundraising drive for her friend’s daughter.

Mrs Marinelli raised £500,000 in just 10 months for three-year-old cancer sufferer Ruby Young should she need crucial treatment not available on the NHS.

Ruby’s mum, Vikki, was in tears as her friend received her trophy and said: “I will be forever grateful for what she has done for my little girl. She has given her the best chance of surviving.”

Sponsors’ award winners included multi-marathon runner and fundraiser Becky Beard, fire rescue hero Jason Blackburn and little leukaemia sufferer Harry Thumwood, who insisted on donating his toys to a hospital ward, even though his parents told him they would sell them to buy him something new.

Pride in Medway is sponsored by mhs homes, Medway Council, the University of Kent, Uniper, Southeastern and Medway Messenger.

Put someone forward by filling out a form in the Medway Messenger or visiting www.pridein.co.uk/nominate.

You can put more details on an additional sheet if you wish.

• The closing date for nominations is Friday, December 16.