A volunteer radio presenter from Southport who is supporting local people despite undergoing regular cancer treatment is celebrating winning a Merseyside Women Of The Year Award.
Cassie James, a regular figure on Mighty Radio 107.9, was honoured for her unstinting work supporting the local community during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The 58-year-old is one of life’s optimists despite her condition, saying: “Cancer is horrendous and if my story can show people that despite all that I’m going through it is possible to live life and have massive amounts of positivity.”
Cassie was nominated by previous award winner Brenda Porter and The Financial Planning Corporation, which is based in Ainsdale.
She is now looking forward to taking part in a skydive for the Isla Rose Foundation.
Merseyside Women Of The Year Award judges said: “During lockdown Cassie demonstrated total dedication and commitment to presenting her show, seven days a week, to connect with her local community at a time when it was needed most.
“Despite her own personal struggles with her health, Cassie has continued to be a force for good in local media and used her position at Mighty Radio to provide a platform to highlight the key issues and concerns experienced by members of the Southport community, including loneliness and isolation.”
The MWOTY Marvels awards were launched in June, after the organisation was forced to cancel its 2020 event due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The online awards initiative was designed to recognise the key workers and volunteers who supported our region through the pandemic.
Cassie James appears on Mighty Radio 107.9 between 10am and midday every Monday to Sunday.
She said: “I have had some serious health challenges to get through with being a Stage 4 cancer patient and having treatment at home
“I am also a Stage 3 skin cancer patient too. It’s complicated.
“I have treatment at home every three weeks with an intravenous infusion of two medications thanks to Clatterbridge nurses do this they will continue to do this until it stops working.
“When Brenda ported and The Financial Planning Corporation nominated me I never for one minute thought I would get to the final let alone be one of the five winners.
“It was a big shock – a very nice one though!
“The award is for all that I have done and all that I do for the Southport community.
“To be really honest I actually don’t see what it is that other people see, I just do my thing and I am very privileged to have the radio platform to do it all from.
“I try really hard to seek out all things charity and am planning to do a skydive for the Isla Rose Foundation as soon as Covid will allow. I was very honoured to be asked to be a trustee of the foundation earlier this year by Sarah, Isla’s mum.
“I am constantly researching and looking for people who need to use the radio as a voice to get the word out there about what they are trying to achieve.
“I have done countless interviews via the phone doing my show from home seven days a week from approximately the beginning of March.
“I can’t go back to the studio until it’s safe due to my health condition.”
As well as providing a platform for charities and good causes in Southport through her radio station, Cassie is also determined to show people with cancer that they can still live life.
She said: “Cancer is such a scary thing and the journey is horrendous and if my story can show people that despite all that I’m going through it is possible to live life and have massive amounts of positivity.
“I also have loads of fun doing what I do. It keeps me sane if not just a little bit bonkers at times!
“I miss being in the studio a lot but I can do it from home so that is fantastic for me, amazing what technology can do.”
Cassie is also a devoted mum who has raised two fantastic children on her own.
She said: “I’m the sort of person who puts in 110%. I have been to Edge Hill University in Ormskirk and have a degree in social work studies. I do have other qualifications, all of them are in health and social care.
“I helped and supported my children through university. It was tough being a single parent.
“I brought my two children up on my own. I have no close family except my children.
“My son Johnathon is 33 and lives in Manchester and after completing university doing a degree in building surveying he now works in a solicitors in Manchester in conveyancing. I also have a wonderful 12 year old grandson called Jamie through Johnathon.
“My daughter Stacey is 30 and she went to university and did a degree in fashion design and now lives and works in Sweden as a designer for H&M.
“My life has really consisted of bringing my children up and making sure I have given them all the right morals and ethics to be good upstanding people and to achieve positive outcomes.
“I have got so much more I want to do and I hope I am able to give the time to do all that I want to do.”
Cassie was nominated for her award by Brenda Porter, a previous award winner for her immense work to improve Ainsdale and the wider Southport community, and by the Financial Planning Corporation in Ainsdale.
Brenda said: “I was impressed with Cassie’s thoughtfulness in wanting to help others despite her own concerns and her commitment to give others much-needed support.
“I am really pleased with her success, especially at a time when support for others is so important and again promotes Southport and its community.”
Mighty Radio Director Sean Connolly described his presenter as an inspiration to others.
He said: “Cassie James is an amazing woman and inspiration to anyone who may be going through a tough time in their life.
“She has not only gone through one of the toughest challenges life can throw at us, but to come out the other side and help others just starting out on a similar journey, is nothing short of amazing. She is simply outstanding.
“It is her love of life and enthusiasm which brushes off on all the other presenters at Mighty Radio. She is a dream to work with portraying an almost wicked sense of humour.
“I have often said that whenever you are feeling down or fed up, you only have to tune into Mighty Radio at 10am any weekday morning and two hours later I can guarantee you will feel invigorated.
“This award is the icing on the cake for Cassie and a much needed and deserved reward for her, but equally, a great way for Merseyside to say, Well done Cassie James. You are a credit to our town and don’t stop doing what you do.”
Speaking after the event, organisers Ellen Kerr and Jean Gadsby said: “It has been wonderful, despite the pandemic, to still do what MWOTY always seeks to do – to shine a light on those people in our communities whose incredible work often goes unnoticed and celebrate their incredible achievements.
“We would like to thank and congratulate all five of our winners, all of our nominees and all of the other key workers and volunteers who have supported our region during these unprecedented and challenging times. You are all marvels to us!”
The MWOTY Marvels awards were supported by Headline Sponsor, Michael W Halsall Solicitors, and sponsors Leonard Curtis Business Solutions, Community Foundation for Merseyside, Neo Community and ADDvanced Solutions, Courage & Sparkle, Everton FC and Financial Planning Corporation (Ainsdale), all of who had been set to sponsor categories at the 2020 MWOTY Awards.
Collette McCann, Solicitor at Michael W Halsall, said: “The MWOTY Marvels shine a light on some of the most amazing people, who in the face of worldwide concern and anxiety, rose up to go all out for those in their community.
“We would like to extend a heartfelt and genuine thank you and well done to the MOWTY Marvels. They are all amazing and an inspiration to our region.”
Following its postponement this year, MWOTY’s tenth anniversary event will now take place on Friday 25th June 2021. Nominations for the MWOTY 2021 event are now open.
To find out more about MWOTY, visit the website here.
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