Unsung Teesside heroes were honoured at a ceremony to celebrate their champion efforts in making a difference to the lives of others.

At a glittering awards ceremony their selfless dedication was recognised at the second Evening Gazette Community Champion Awards.

Outstanding nominations were attracted for 13 award categories including Champion for Youth.

The lives of Kenny and Maralyn Bowen were turned upside down when 19-year-old son Ian died.

The Teesside University student, from Redcar, had always been full of energy and his ambition was to join the RAF as an engineer.

But suddenly, five years ago, he died of a heart condition known as Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome which if undetected can result in sudden cardiac death of young people.

Despite being left devastated Kenny and Maralyn decided to do everything they could to stop families going through the same pain.  Since then they linked into the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young and have raised £250000 for medical equipment and research into the condition.

"Our world fell apart when Ian died" said Maralyn, "The first we knew about it was at New Year in 1996 when he felt his heart racing and was worried enough to go to the doctor.

"We were told he'd need an ablation, a type of heart surgery, but there was no rush and he wasn't on the emergency list."

After losing her son Maralyn found the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

"I desperately needed to talk to someone who had experienced the same pain, but there didn't seem to be anyone until I read about CRY in a woman's magazine.

"It was such a relief to speak to someone who knew what I was talking about and was a trained counsellor."

Maralyn and Kenny decided to help in the work of CRY.  Kenny started writing to charitable trusts and anyone who could help raise funds, Maralyn is currently in the second stage of the CRY counselling skills course and forms part of a network of individuals whom can be contacted by affected families.

Part of the money raised has funded medical teams from St Georges Hospital in London to carry out specialist screening days in their home town of Redcar in a bid to identify youngsters at risk.

"We know it's worth it because we have already saved the lives of several people", they said.

They were nominated for the Champions of Youth award by Christine Cousins.

Evening Gazette Editor, Steve Dyson said all those unsung heroes nominated for an award deserved recognition.

"These are the people who are the Evening Gazette's - and your - Community Champions, he said.  "People who make things happen, get things done and, above all, the people who care.

"These incredible people really are making a difference to people's lives."

The Awards were presented at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough.