Tia Ruel, from Finchampstead, was presented with the ‘Outstanding Sporting Contribution’ award at last year’s Pride of Bracknell Awards ceremony after captaining a boccia team to a silver medal in the National Pairs and Team Championship and winning the South East Regional Boccia Championships.

She was subsequently promoted from the England Talent Squad to the England Lions Squad, which is the selection pool for the England pool and took part in her first major international championship at the Czech Open shortly after the awards ceremony.

The 17-year-old said: “I was so honoured to be given the Outstanding Sports Contribution award at last year’s Pride of Bracknell Awards. It was such a wonderful evening and everyone was so friendly.

“It meant a lot to me that my sport – boccia – was recognised and that disability sport was given such a high profile.

“What I loved best about the evening was that I was just about to go and represent England at the Czech Open and Ady Williams wished me luck on stage and everyone cheered. It was so fantastic to have that community backing before I went off to my first major international championship.” More than 40 nominations have been submitted for this year’s event – organised by the Bracknell News, Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) and a host of other sponsors and there’s still time for you to choose your heroes and community champions.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 23. Judges will then shortlist nominations for the awards, and the successful nominees will be invited to attend the presentation evening on Friday, April 17, with a guest.

Readers can view a full list of award categories or submit nominations by visiting www.bracknellnews.co.uk/bracknellpride Alternatively, nominations can be posted to the News by using the paper nomination form below.