Local heroes honoured in Make a Difference Awards

The BBC Radio Oxford Make a Difference Awards winners for 2024

A diversity champion and a local Christmas heroine were among the winners at an award ceremony celebrating local heroes.

The BBC Radio Oxford Make a Difference Awards had eight categories and recognised those who love to make life better for others.

To date, more than 10 million people have got involved in Make a Difference across BBC radio stations.

Winners for Oxford were chosen by a panel of judges and were crowned at a special event at 18:00 BST at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday.

'I want to make a difference to the children'

Mikayla Beames received the award for fundraising

Mikayla Beames, from Childrey, has lived with brain cancer since she was four - she won the fundraiser award.

Inspired by her own personal challenges she set up the charity Team Mikayla which grants wishes for other children fighting cancer across four hospitals in the UK.

The organisation has raised more than £300,000 since 2014 and granted more than 300 wishes.

"I want to make a difference to the children and just create a little smile," Ms Beames said.

Community champion

Mr Gunaydin said his children motivated him to do his community work

Mahmut Gunaydin, from Oxford, has championed equality, diversity and inclusion at schools and communities across the city.

He won the community award for his work volunteering with the Dialogue Society which aims to advance social cohesion.

He has organised community events that help to fundraise for various causes and celebrate the commonalities and differences among different faiths and cultures.

His Life of Chickpea project saw him visit school children to educate them on diversity and British values of democracy, individual liberty and mutual respect.

Mr Gunaydin said his children motivated him to do his community work.

He said: "I believe that if my children can meet with faith and community leaders from an early age then it will help them to better understand others."

Didcot's Heroine

Anna Gatrell has been providing Christmas dinners for people in need for 18 years

Anna Gatrell has been providing Christmas dinners for vulnerable and lonely people in Oxfordshire for 18 years.

She provides hampers for those people who are unable to leave their homes during the festive period.

"I just felt that no-one should be on their own on Christmas Day," she said.

The heroine, from Didcot, fundraises every year so she can keep the Christmas Day meals going and now she has won a volunteer award in recognition of her selfless work.

She said that she was "surprised" to get the nod for the Make a Difference award but added she did what she did to help people and not for awards.

"All the reward I need is to see people so happy on Christmas Day," she said.

A caring husband

Richard Wicks attended the award ceremony alongside his daughter Tilly

Richard Wicks, from Shillingford, won the carer award for caring for his wife for more than 20 years.

Mrs Wicks was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2004 and is now receiving palliative care and requires 24-hour support from her husband.

Mr Wicks' daughter Tilly put him forward for the award.

She said he had sacrificed his hobbies and his own time to always "put my mother's interests at the centre of his actions".

Mr Wicks, a former RAF engineer, said he was "taken completely by surprise" just to be nominated for the award.

Make a Difference award winners 2024

• Volunteer - Anna Gatrell

• Community - Mahmut Gunaydin

• Fundraiser - Mikayla Beames

• Carer - Richard Wicks

• Great Neighbour - Susan Holden

• Bravery - Samantha Cowley

• Green - Bicester Green Gym

• Animal - HEROS