Sir Kenny Dalglish and Marina Dalglish were awarded the first ever LIfetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards.
The couple have been an integral part of life in Southport and across Merseyside ever since they moved to the town in 1977, when ‘King Kenny’ signed in a British record transfer fee from Celtic.
In the years since this humble, generous, talented, determined couple have had an incredible
impact on the lives of thousands of local people and their families – for which they will forever be
grateful.
The special recognition award was presented by Neil Gokcen and Stephen Dunne from category sponsors Birkdale Kitchen Co. in Birkdale Village in Southport.
This is the first Pride Of Sefton Awards that has been held and there is no-one held in a higher regard and who have earned more respect from local people than Sir Kenny and Marina Dalglish.
They have been selfless, determined and energetic in support of people when they needed it the most, whether in pursuit of better cancer diagnosis, services and support, or in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy.
The Marina Dalglish Appeal has raised over £13 million to improve the lives of people fighting cancer and continues to campaign for women to “get checked”.
It was set up by the Dalglish family in 2005 ‘to do something to help’ after Marina was successfully treated for breast cancer in 2003.
With the invaluable help of an army of volunteers, supporters, friends and family they have touched many aspects of cancer care for thousands of people in the North West.
The Marina Dalglish Appeal has one very simple aim: ‘to make a difference’ to cancer patients and their families.
Sir Kenny Dalglish MBE is one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Liverpool’s greatest ever player, he won six League titles and three European Cups as a player, with three League titles as a Manager, in addition to his huge haul of honours with Celtic and Blackburn Rovers.
He has supported wife Marina with her fundraising and cancer awareness campaigns.
He was Manager of Liverpool when the Hillsborough Tragedy took place, and despite the huge toll it took on him personally, he and his family gave huge support to players and supporters affected.
They have attended many funerals of the victims, including four in one day.
Their presence in the aftermath of the disaster has been described as “colossal and heroic”.
Receiving the award on stage in an emotional moment, Marina Dalglish paid tribute to Neil Gokcen’s wife, Catherine, who died last year at just 48 years old.
The Gokcen family in Southport and raised an impressive £75,859.71 for the Marina Dalglish Larks Appeal in memory of Catherine.
The family presented their cheque to Sir Kenny and Marina Dalglish earlier this year.
Catherine’s husband Neil, her children Eve and Tom, plus other family members and friends rallied together to take part in a 15,000ft skydive last year.
They also staged a number of other fundraising events including a Sportsman’s Dinner at Auberge Brasserie in Southport plus ladies’ nights, wine tastings, and other charity events.
The money will go towards improving the lives of cancer patients and their families in Merseyside.
The Pride Of Sefton Awards were organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and by Stand Up For Southport, with support from In Demand Radio.
VIP guests included Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Carragher and Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside Julie Lawson, while the night was hosted by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo and TV presenter Fraser Dainton.
Entertainment was provided by Kelly Bond and Soul Jam.
Money was raised for the Steve Prescott Foundation and the ICU Steps charity, a cause close to Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail after his long battle in intensive care in hospital against Covid-19 during the pandemic.
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