Some of Cornwall's hero fundraisers have been nominated for this year's BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference Awards. The Fundraiser category recognises individuals and groups who go above and beyond to raise money for local causes. People have been involved in everything from singing in a choir to climbing mountains and running marathons. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Truro on Wednesday.
Noah Jordan was nine months old when he died in 2024 from a rare paediatric mitochondrial disease called Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome, for which there is currently no treatment or cure. His grieving family in Tywardreath vowed to fund research, raise awareness of the condition, and support other families affected by such conditions. The Noah Jordan Foundation has now raised just over £500,000 in two years, which has funded a three-year medical research PhD and helped the hospice where Noah passed away.
His father Ben said: "No parent should have to be told in this modern world that there is nothing that can be done, there are no treatment or cures – that isn't good enough.
"When Noah died I made him a promise, that the impact I would have on these diseases in my lifetime would be his legacy and I will not let him down.
"Whilst I am not a scientist nor a doctor, I want to do my best for other children affected by these diseases."
The Dreckly Boys were created for a one-off Christmas Eve charity gig in 2022 but are still going strong. The singing group for men over 40 practices at St Austell Band Club on Tuesday nights and performs all over Cornwall. Founder Pete Roycroft said: "We have raised a lot of money. I think there are five defibrillators we've put around St Austell town… £3,000 to the cancer care boxes at Treliske Hospital.
"This year our chosen charity is the Merlin Centre – we've just given them £1,500, plus obviously we're only halfway through the year so we'll have a lot more to give to them as well."
Musical director Jamie Rotherham added: "It's really good to get some people together who otherwise might not have many things going on in their lives or perhaps who need to get out and about and do things. It's good for their health as well… one or two of our more senior members have also noted that singing and learning to sing properly has helped with their breathing and they're generally in better health."
Kev Riddle plans his fundraising missions with military precision, not surprising as he is a Warrant Officer based at RAF St Mawgan in Newquay. Riddle and his comrades are determined to tackle food insecurity, working with the food bank movement in Cornwall.
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Fundraisers Celebrated in BBC Cornwall Make a Difference Awards