Meet the judges for The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards – including Anthony Joshua, Christine Lampard and Ellie Simmonds
WE have been inundated with stories of kindness, care and heroism carried out by your healthcare heroes – and now it’s time to meet the judges whose difficult job it is to decide who takes home the awards.
Our annual Who Cares Wins ceremony, sponsored by the National Lottery and held in partnership with NHS Charities Together, was set up in 2017 to showcase the incredible work carried out by the nation’s healthcare workers and volunteers.
And this year’s awards will be even more special, as the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The Sun’s Editor-in-Chief Victoria Newton, who is on our judging panel, said: “This year we are delighted to again celebrate Britain’s healthcare heroes in this very special way.
“Reading the heart-warming, humbling and sometimes harrowing stories of how nominees have gone above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of others, I continue to be amazed by the many different ways the NHS and our unsung heroes strive to keep us safe every day.”
Also on the panel is long-standing judge and TV presenter Christine Lampard, who says she feels honoured to be a judge again and cannot wait for our star-studded ceremony, which will be broadcast on Channel 4 next month.
She said: “So often in medical emergencies the heroes are nameless — but the Who Cares Wins awards give us an opportunity to celebrate those heroes and thank them for everything they do.”
Christine, 44, who is married to football ace Frank Lampard, 45, says their children, Patsy, four and two-year-old Freddie, love playing doctors and nurses — but their bedside manner is not great.
The Lorraine and Loose Women star says: “Freddie has a toy medical kit and he spent ages checking things like my temperature, while accidentally bashing me with lots of implements!”
Like most parents, Christine and Frank have had to make emergency trips to hospital for the kids.
Speaking about the time Freddie developed a mystery rash, the star says: “The doctors and nurses who treated him at 2am were absolute heroes.
“You get there, you feel like you’re handing over your most prized possession, but it doesn’t matter how busy it is, they make you feel like you’re the priority.”
Fortunately, Freddie got a clean bill of health.
Christine adds: “The doctors, nurses and volunteers see unimaginable things.
“Parents who have had terrible things happen to their families nominate those who mattered in those moments. I’ll definitely be bringing my tissues on the night of the awards.”
Now, meet our other judges as they explain why the nation’s health heroes deserve to be celebrated.
Find out more at nhscharitiestogether.co.uk.
Ellie Simmonds: Paralympic swimming champ
LIVING with a disability since I was a baby, I’ve always relied on the NHS.
I am so grateful to the incredible people who work there.
The nurses have always been so friendly and the doctors put me at ease whenever I had treatment.
My particular form of dwarfism, achondroplasia, causes legs to bow, which is painful.
In 2007, aged 12, I had metal plates put in my knees. I was in Birmingham Children’s Hospital for a week. It was scary.
But my memory is positive because of the amazing people who looked after me.
I learned to walk again. The specialists literally put me back on my feet.
A year later I won my first Paralympic gold medals.
I’m delighted to be a judge for Who Cares Wins.
It will be tough picking the winners but I look forward to reading their amazing stories and celebrating our healthcare heroes.
Anthony Joshua: Boxing champ
I’M so excited to be a judge for this year’s Who Cares Wins awards.
We have all needed the NHS at some point in our lives. It’s a national treasure and I don’t know where we would be without the people who keep it running day in, day out.
Every single person who works in the health service is a champion in my eyes.
As an awards presenter last year, I was blown away by the nominees and what they achieved. I was determined to get a selfie with every one of them. They were the true stars of the night.
It was such an honour to present the Young Hero award to Jayden Sorhaindo, 12. Carer Jayden, who saved her mum’s life after she collapsed in the bath, spoke with such eloquence it moved the audience to tears.
These healthcare heroes care for us – now it’s our turn to care for them.
Dr Zoe Williams: Sun Health GP
IT’S always an honour being asked to judge the Who Cares Wins awards but it’s also one of the hardest things to do because all the entries are so incredible and deserving.
I know first-hand how many unsung heroes there are in the NHS. I’m lucky to work with lots of them on every shift I do.
The nominees are incredible people who make all the difference to families at their most traumatic times.
They’re the ones who hold hands, explain procedures, reassure families and help no matter how bad things might be.
I’ve met incredible people through the awards who make sure patients get what they need and take care of the little things.
The Who Cares Wins awards are amazing every year, but this year – with the NHS turning 75 – I know they’ll be a special celebration and I can’t wait to meet the nominees.
Ellie Orton: NHS Charities Together
IN the 75th year of our NHS, the Who Cares Wins awards give us another opportunity to celebrate everything that’s so special about the health service.
Over the years, the NHS has rolled out world-leading research, vaccination programmes and advancements in medicine that have had a profound impact globally.
It’s a magnificent institution – but it would be nothing without its people.
Most of us would say our lives have been touched by the NHS workforce.
And thanks to public generosity, NHS Charities Together has been able to give back – funding thousands of projects across the UK.
The Who Cares Wins awards are a much-needed opportunity to recognise those who truly go above and beyond. I’m excited to celebrate their exceptional achievements.