From almost 35,000 amazing nominations, to 24 incredible finalists. We're so proud to introduce you to the finalists of the JustGiving Awards 2018.
Now it's over to you to decide who wins. Read all of their inspiring stories and pick your favourite story in each category to cast your vote.
PayPal Endurance Fundraiser of the Year
Ever since Kevin was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2014, he's taken on huge endurance challenges for Prostate Cancer UK. This year were his most epic yet. Kevin ran 120 miles pulling a sledge across the Arctic in temperature below -30c. Then two weeks later, he ran another 156 miles, but this time in over 50c heat as he took on the Marathon Des Sables for the third time. He's raised over £200,000.
In 2009, Kiko was diagnosed with Cushings Disease, a rare and life-threatening condition. While training to row across the Atlantic, the disease returned and Kiko had to have an operation on her brain. Thanks to the amazing team at King's College Hospital, she was training again within a month and in March 2018, Kiko became the fastest woman to row across the Atlantic. She's raised over £100,000 to thank the hospital.
86-year-old, Jeffrey is a former paratrooper from Yorkshire. He recently celebrated his birthday by walking a mile for every year he's been alive – 86 miles, unaided and in army camouflage. He wanted to raise money for The Royal British Legion, a charity he has been a long term supporter of. He raised over £120,000 in just a few days after his story went viral. Jeffrey was awarded an MBE in 2009 for his voluntary work, as he also walked 84 and 85 miles to celebrate his previous birthdays too.
Creative Fundraiser of the Year
Clare was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression after her husband died. When a psychologist recommended that she could try knitting to alleviate her symptoms, she began making some Christmas items to raise money for the hospice that cared for her husband. Pretty soon, word of her knitting had spread, and Clare was asked to yarn bomb a tree for the hospice. This year, Clare completed a full size, 13ft knitted garden which included a hospice bedroom to celebrate what would have been her husband's 50th birthday.
Michael, or Speedo Mick as he's better known, has swum the English Channel and visited every Premier League ground in his speedos, hat and goggles to raise money for different charities. This year he’s walking 700 miles from Everton FC to Olympique Lyonnaise FC in his speedos to watch his beloved Everton in the UEFA Europa League.
He'll walk up to 30 miles a day to help Alder Hey Children’s Charity support the 275,000 children they treat every year.
When teacher, Helen heard just how many refugee children in Greece had no access to education, she decided to take action by setting up a school in a refugee camp in Athens. To raise money, Helen rollerbladed the entire length of the Bakerloo line… wait for it - covered in marmalade! It took over 6 hours, but she raised over £1,000 and thankfully had time for a quick marmalade sandwich at Paddington station too!
Fundraising Team of the Year
Vicki was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2017. Towards the end of her life, she was cared for by Dorothy House Hospice - she died in February this year. Lots of Vicki's friends, who all met at Liverpool University decided to team up and raise money in her memory. Together, over twenty of her friends from all over the world have gotten involved, taking on races from the Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll to the Mount Oxford Odyssey in New Zealand.
Will and Chris have known Sam since they were 11 years old. Sam has Cerebral Palsy but has never let his condition get in the way of anything. To raise enough money to get him a new state of the art power wheelchair, this group of friends have decided to do something incredible – carry Sam to the top of a mountain, so he can experience a feeling he never thought he would.
Tŷ Hafan offer comfort, care and support to life-limited children and their families. They help families in Wales make the most of the time they have left together. In July this year, a group of dads who's children have been cared for by the hospice took on the #5in55 challenge. They climbed five mountains (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen Y Fan) in 55 hours. Together they raised almost £27,000 to give back to the hospice.
Young Fundraiser of the Year
Seven-year-old Isaac was inspired to fundraise by his best friend, Fin, who has type 1 diabetes. Isaac's done lots of challenges like wearing a pink leotard for his rugby games in January, shaving his head, giving up chocolate for a month and doing a sponsored silence. He's also cycled 65 miles, climbed up Pen-y-Fan mountain twice in one day and walked the full length of the Rhondda. Issac's raised over £13,000 through various different fundraising activities for JDRF.
Last November, seven-year-old Maddison was taken to hospital when she was unable to walk from a pain in her spine. Doctors discovered that her spine was fractured in two vertebra, and the cause of her spinal fracture was revealed to be leukaemia. She began two years of chemotherapy that resulted in hair loss. Maddison started her campaign Don't Stare, It's Only Hair. She encouraged close friends to shave their head or donate a "fine". She's raised over £40,000 for CLIC Sargent.
Olly had an operation to remove a tumour on his brain when he was 11-years-old. When he was having chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Newcastle hospital, he decided he wanted to do something to improve the unit for other kids his age going through something similar. He’s inspired over 60 people to join Team Olly, and together they’ve raised over £17,000 for the children's cancer wards.
Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year
Last year, Made in Chelsea's JP welcomed a baby girl to the world. Shortly after, his friend Ben came to visit him and his new baby. On his way home, Ben was involved in a motorcycle accident, leaving him paralysed from the chest down. A few days later, Ben was told that he'd never walk again. This year Ben asked Josh not only to take part in the Berlin marathon with him, but to do it in a wheelchair. Together, they're fundraising for the Spinal Injuries Association.
Mark, aka dad blogger LadBaby raised money for BBC Children in Need by doing embarrassing things in exchange for donations. The more people gave, the more things he did. From spending the day as Batman and Robin, to renting out the Only Fools and Horses van, LadBaby kept the donations coming in with his hilarious videos. This year, he also beat the likes of Prince William and Rio Ferdinand to win Celebrity Dad of the Year.
For the last few years, on International Women’s Day, comedian Richard Herring has searched Twitter for people asking, "When’s International Men's Day?" to let them know it's on November 19th. He does it so everyone else can get on with celebrating International Women's Day and using it to raise awareness of issues affecting women. This year he fundraised for Refuge, a charity supporting women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Richard raised over £150,000 in just over 24 hours.
