MOLE Valley is blessed with a plethora of community organisations that make a real difference to people's lives.
Whether it's a fundraising panto group, Guides with a well-used hut in urgent need of renovation, or a charity that provides cheer in the darkest of hours, they are all desperate for funds.
That is where our inaugural Heart of the Community Awards come in – with a whopping £20,000 prize fund to be shared out.
The deadline to nominate a worthy cause in your neighbourhood has been extended, but entries must reach us by Sunday (September 8).
Among those already in the running are the Brockham Youth Cafe, which is bidding to secure the venture's future for years to come. Fundraiser and secretary Clare Ritchie said: "Young people are the future of our village.
"Winning would be fantastic. Just having that venue is a really great thing."
The village's youth council was set up in 2010, and has made a huge difference to village cohesion, she said.
The youth cafe is key to that, but the £1,300 annual running costs are hard to meet.
Also in contention is After Breast Cancer (ABC) group, which was set up 11 years ago in Reigate to provide support to women who are being treated for the disease, or are recovering from it.
They not only help one another through difficult times, but have made 1,200 "dolly bags", and counting, to cheer up breast cancer patients having surgery at East Surrey Hospital.
Chairman Fran Millican said: "When you are first diagnosed, the first thing you think is that you are going to die, but treatment is so much better these days.
"From my experience in hospital, your family are there but then they go home and you can feel on your own.
"The nurses take our little pink bags, tied with pink ribbons, to the ladies and they are so pleased."
The group has also raised money to buy a TV for the hospital's chemotherapy suite and a fridge for the MacMillan staff room, but funds are always scarce, limiting the gifts for the dolly bags – that's where Heart of the Community cash could help.
"It would mean so much to be able to fill the bags with more," said Mrs Millican.
● The public will vote for the winners of our awards in three categories – environment, education and community – with the first-place winners in each receiving £2,500. Second place groups will receive £1,500 and £1,000 will go to groups that finish third in each category.
A further two awards of £2,500 will be chosen by our sponsors, Partnership, and presented to organisations that capture the spirit of the campaign but do not win via the reader vote.
To nominate, go to www.surreymirror.co.uk/awards and click on the heart logo, or call us on 01737 783884.
