Make a Difference: Award-winning mum pledges more fundraising

Nikki Treharne has raised money for Brain Tumour Research since the death of her son Ethan

A mother who won a BBC Make a Difference award is planning more fundraising in memory of her teenage son who died from a brain tumour.

Nikki Treharne, from Sandhurst, Berkshire, organised sponsored walks, parachute jumps and celebrity football matches after her son Ethan died, aged 17.

She said Ethan "would be proud" of her winning a 2023 award for fundraising.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Make a Difference Awards.

Ethan died in 2021 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma while studying for his GCSEs.

After his death, Mrs Treharne and her husband Justin began fundraising to help find a cure for the condition.

Ethan Treharne died in 2021, aged 17

They organised a celebrity football match with EastEnders cast members, including Danny Dyer and Danielle Harold, raising more than £15,000.

Mrs Treharne said she was "proud and overwhelmed" to have been recognised for her fundraising.

• A quick guide to the Make A Difference awards

• The best of the Make A Difference awards

"For us bereaved mums, it's about keeping our kid's memory alive and trying to live better lives in their memory, so it was a really proud moment," she said.

"The award means a lot - it has Ethan's name on it."

This year sees her taking on an "earth, wind and fire" challenge - climbing Yr Wyddfa, walking over hot coals and wing-walking.

Green champion

Martin Woolner won the Green award in 2023

Martin Woolner, from Maidenhead, won a Green Award to recognise individuals who work to improve their local environment.

The 81-year-old has worked with volunteer groups fore more than 40 years to plant trees, improve wildlife habitats and carry out survey work.

"It's spurred me on to do more and get more people involved," he said.

"I'd like to go to decision makers or developers with the award, to make my passion a bit more observable so we can get a bit more influence over inertia or disregard for wildlife."

He urged people to get involved with the awards aimed at highlighting good work done in communities throughout the country.

"It can be a great stimulus to make you think, 'What can I do to make a difference?'," he added.

How to nominate

The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they live.

Every BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in 2024.

The awards are a chance to say thank you and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others.

Nominations can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website, where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice. Nominations will close on Sunday 10 March 2024 at 23:00 GMT.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].