A Crosby woman who has led the prolific kNOw Knife Crime campaign after the tragic murder of her brother has been honoured for her tireless work with young people at the 2024 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Laura Hughes has worked with many thousands of pupils at schools in Sefton and across the Liverpool City Region after her brother, Colin McGinty, was fatally stabbed to death after a night out with friends in Bootle in 2001 in a case of mistaken identity.
Laura has led the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign which aims to promote safety among children and positively educate them about the dangers of knife crime and give them the tools to be confident and aware in our community.
Laura has also been pushing for public buildings to have bleed control kits on hand to the public to improve the chances of surviving a tragic incident.
Last month Laura and other kNOw Knife Crime campaigners Lynne, Katie, Michelle, Elaine and Christina raised over £8,000 as they ran the 26.2 mile London Marathon to raise money through Cash for Kids.
This money will be used to purchase Knife Savers bleed control kits and cabinets that will be donated to communities across the North West region who need them the most.
In April Laura was working with Christina Greaves, the Director of Primary Southport Learning Trust and Headteacher of Kew Woods Primary School in Southport, to create mini marathons in over 80 schools across Sefton.
Schools also took part in a relay event, running between schools, spreading the running buzz and raising awareness about the kNOw Knife campaign.
Fundraisers from the #kNOwKnifeCrime in Sefton are getting ready to run the 2024 London Marathon
Laura is keen to see money raised so that more bleed control kits are provided in public places which, like defibrillators, can be accessed in an emergency to save a life. They contain first aid equipment that will stop a person bleeding too much and give more time for an ambulance to arrive and save a life.
Sefton schools ran to raise money to purchase these bleed kits and create a network of them across Sefton for the whole community to use in an emergency.
Over 35,000 children took part in the TSC virtual mini marathon while over 1,600 children have taken part in the Sefton Schools say #kNOwKnifeCrime relay race passing on a bleed control kit as the baton.
Over £23,000 was raised collectively which is going to be used to purchase and donate bleed control kits across the local community.
School children from across Sefton are taking part in a #kNOwKnifeCrime relay race
The 2024 Pride Of Sefton Awards saw 13 categories on the night at The Grand in Southport, with incredible stories behind all the finalists.
There were over 1,300 nominations for community figures from Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and across Sefton.
The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards were organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport in association with media partners In Demand Radio.
The night was hosted by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo, with entertainment from Whitney Houston tribute performer Michelle Lawson, soul singer Dave Broe and DJ Baz Todd.
School children across Sefton will join forces this April to take part in the Sefton says #kNOwKnifeCrime relay race event
As Sefton celebrates its 50th birthday, VIP guests attending the awards included Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson; Mayor of Sefton Cllr June Burns; and council Chief Executive Phil Porter.
Also enjoying the evening were boxing world title challenger Martin Murray and Liverpool FC legend Gary Gillespie.
Pictures on the night were taken by Kevin Brown Photography with videography by Zack Downey from ZED Productions.
Fundraising took place on the night with proceeds going to ICU Steps, the intensive care patient support charity.
- For more details about the Pride Of Sefton Awards please visit: www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk or email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
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