A funding campaign expecting to raise a few hundred pounds to cover fuel costs of farmers bravely fighting wildfires on the North York Moors last summer ended up topping £77,000 – and now the woman behind it has been nominated for a national award.
Amy Cockrem of Sleights is up for the Charity Champion category at the Local Hero Awards after setting up the Justgiving page, which surpassed all expectations, and led to an incredible response from Whitby residents and beyond.
The awards attract entries from up and down the country and winners, decided by the number of public votes they receive, will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony at the NEC in Birmingham in October.
There are just two days left to support Ms Cockrem with lines closing on Friday (April 24).
The Charity Champion category is to recognise “an individual who has dedicated their time, energy, or skills to supporting a charitable cause through volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy.”
Ms Cockrem says she was surprised to be nominated and found out when she got an email about it.
She said: “I was surprised to be nominated, but I have said it all along and still say it now, I don’t want any credit, I set it up because that is me.
“It is the farmers and fire-fighters who deserve all the credit. I am not one for publicity and didn’t do it for that. I did get a bit of stick for it but you do I suppose.”
Money from the fund was distributed by the NFU to cover costs incurred by farmers as they worked alongside fire crews to bring the wildfire, which raged for weeks across ten square miles, under control.
This included new oil filters, servicing and repairs to damaged tractors and machinery. Farmers who worked and helped on the moors last August were presented with a Botham’s hamper at Christmas as a thankyou which was also paid for from the fund.
Any remaining funds are set to be donated to The Fire Fighters Charity.
Ms Cockrem’s father was a farmer and she used to work on a farm as a relief milker so the cause was close to her heart.
Ms Cockrem added: “I am from a farming background and it resonated, but even if I wasn’t I would still have done it.
“The impact on the farmers, they will never forget and some of the stories you hear are hell.
“They were literally terrified for their lives, they were working alongside fire-fighters, driving through flames and didn’t think they would come out – and they just did it.
“I find it emotional to think about now and that they didn’t have to do it, but did it for their communities.”
