A BRAVE charity champion who has overcome lifelong health battles is bringing back her hugely successful awards event as she continues to champion her community.
Leah Canning, now 22, has launched her 2023 Inverclyde Inspirational Awards as she continues to highlight the achievements of people in the community.
Born three months premature and given almost no chance of survival, Leah was left with complex health conditions.
But the miracle baby fought against all odds every step of the way.
The former Miss Teen Scotland beauty pageant winner from Greenock's east end, who is now studying business at university and has taken on role as a mentor.
But she is also determined to continue giving people in Inverclyde a platform.
As her awards return as an in-person event for the first time since 2020, Leah is hoping that other businesses and organisations will join forces with her first sponsor, Esplanade Cafe owner Marco Medinelli to celebrate the best of Inverclyde.
Leah, who lives in McLeod Street, said: "The response we have had has been incredible.
"We have had some great nominations and now we have our finalists.
"There is so much excitement and I am so glad we have been able to bring the awards night back in person."
This year's event will be held in Cruden Hall, hosted by life coach Marion Morrision, who is also one of the judges, along with Councillor Lynne Quinn, Andrew Bowman, a businessman and former director of Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce.
Leah's first awards gala was back in March 2020, with Claire Forde, a disabled campaigner who went blind as a teenager, winning the main award, the Margaret Canning Memorial Award on the night, in memory of Leah's great gran.
Leah, who won numerous awards herself at school for her enterprise work and rose through the ranks in the beauty pageant circle, has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years.
It has been a busy few years for Leah.
After completing a modern apprenticeship she chose to return to Caledonian University to study business management, while also working in the NHS.
Leah said:"I always planned to go to university.
"Now I am there I want to help other young people.
"I have signed up as a student mentor to go round schools and encourage pupils from areas like my own to go to university."
The Inverclyde Inspirational Awards take place on Saturday September 16 in Cruden Hall.
Anyone who wants to sponsor this year's event can get in touch via the awards Facebook page.
Full list of 2023 finalists
- Inspirational Inverclyde Young Citizen: Skye McCabe, Jessica Cornish, Noah Waddell and Alyssa McLellan
- Inspirational Inverclyde Citizen: Ian Brown, Billy Woodman and Tony Philips
- Inspirational Charity Organisation: Safe Harbour Inverclyde, Home Start Inverclyde and Teen Challenge Strathclyde
- Inspirational Community Organisation: Baby Sensory, Xcite Soft Play and Prominence Academy of Performing Arts
- Inspirational Community Contribution: Wullie Carter, Bruce Newlands and Helen & The Tuesday Belles
- Inspirational Community Enterprise: Baby Birds, Ainslee McDade
- Inspirational Photographer: George Munro, Gary Bradley and Angela Prabhu
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