England's Euro winning Lionesses and Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey were among the inspiring figures celebrated at a charity awards night in Manchester. They, together with charity campaigner Figen Murray and Parklife Festival founder Sacha Lord, were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual City of Champions gala dinner.
The glittering night aims to highlight and celebrate Manchester's most inspirational sporting and cultural icons. The awards event, held at the five star Lowry Hotel is organised annually by the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation.
It helps to raise thousands of pounds towards the Foundation's goals of inspiring young people to be the best version of themselves.
Read more : Manchester hotel named one of the world's most luxurious at top awards
Previous inductees have included British Athlete Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, Olympian Sir Chris Hoy MBE, and ex- United footballer and entrepreneur Gary Neville. England's Lionesses were recognised for their contribution to sporting history at the event - and their award was collected on the night by Manchester United and City stars Ellen White and Mary Earps.
The footballers were given a standing ovation on the night and asked if their stunning victory over Germany at Wembley has sunk in yet. Ellen said: "It will take a lifetime to sink in to be honest. It's something we've dreamed of since we were tiny.
"To achieve something with your country that's pretty hard to achieve - we haven't done something since 1966. So to do what we did this summer was so special and pretty mental at the same time."
Recognised for their ability to give back to the next generation of champions, the inductees for 2022 also included British Paralympic Athlete, Dame Sarah Storey DBE fresh from her latest stunning World Championship victory in France. Sarah, 45, confirmed on the night she has no plans to retire - and is already training to take part in the 2024 Parlympics in Paris.
Sarah, Britain's greatest ever Paralympian with 17 gold medals, said that even her three-year-old son Charlie has told her she must go to the 2024 Paralympics. She said: "I've not retired. Paris 2024 - there's no question mark I'm going."
She praised the support in Manchester over the years on her journey. And she had the crowd in stitches with one ancedote saying: "One of my proudest moments was winning the Manchester Evening News Sports Personality of the Year as a 14 year old - and they gave me a case of Boddington's Beer as the winner! But they realised I was underage and my dad was absolutely gutted, so I got a lovely rose bowl instead of 24 cans."
Peace promoter and counter terrorism campaigner Figen Murray also won a standing ovation as she spoke movingly about her life since tragically losing son Martyn Hett in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. She is campaigning for Martyn's Law to legislate for venues to ensure preparedness and protection from terrorist attacks.
She said: "I'm actually a really shy person, I'm an introvert would you believe it, but Martyn's death completely changed me. Something in me is so driven because I just don't want anybody, anybody to experience losing a child, a nephew a niece, it's just so not OK. It drives me to stop other families going through this it's not ok."
The night was opened with a spine-tingling performance from The Manchester Survivors’ Choir made up of people who were injured in the arena attack. Awards were presented by GM Mayor Andy Burnham, British Rally Champion Chris Ingram and Sam Piccione III.
Co-founder of Parklife and The Warehouse Project and night-time advisor Sacha Lord was also inducted in the hall of fame for his contribution to the city's post-pandemic recovery. Sacha told the audience of how he was able to achieve what he has thanks to the support of Manchester.
He said: "In Greater Manchester there is no ceiling to success, and I'm living proof of that. I got two Us and an E at A level, I didn't go to university, clearly Manchester gives opportunity, I feel really lucky to have been born in this city. I didn't have the fortunate financial background to achieve what I wanted, I didn't have an education to achieve what I wanted.
"So I started working in a clothes shop, after that I had a market stall. When Boddington's Brewery decided to shut in 2006 I thought you know what I'll put some raves on in there for 3,000 people and the city would go for it.
"And now we've got 10,000 people at Mayfield every Friday and Saturday - it's all about this city, it inspires you for opportunity.
"I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do as a 15 year old - if you'd said to me then well you're going to have the biggest nightclub in the world, you're going to have the biggest metropolitan festival in the UK, you're going to be advising the mayor of Greater Manchester, I would not have believed it - but that's what the city has allowed me to do."
Diane Modahl, MBE, CEO and co-founder of the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, said: "It is a real privilege for the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation to once again host the City of Champions event at The Lowry Hotel. The inductees honoured this year are inspirational to people of all ages with their dedication and commitment to make a positive difference to people's lives and provide tangible opportunities for people and communities to be their very best. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended.”
Sam Piccione III, President of OVG International added: “Co-op Live and Oak View Group are honoured to support City of Champions in recognising the spirit, influence, and generosity of talent in Manchester and beyond. Their dedication to communities across the North West is highly commendable, and we are delighted to align our vision with theirs. I’d like to extend my congratulations to everyone involved in running such a special event, and to all of the worthy winners.”
Read next:-
