Tesco magazine crowns Kym Ryder as celebrity mum and Jakki James Clarke as overall winner in their third annual star-studded event.

Today, Sunday 2nd March 2008, Tesco Magazine held their third annual, star-studded ceremony, which took place within London’s glamorous Waldorf Hilton Hotel. The winning mums were joined by Celebrity Winner Kym Ryder, Patron/judge Sarah Brown, host Matthew Wright and celebrity guests including; Beverley Knight, Kelly Hoppen, Nicky Clarke, Gail Porter, Kay Burley and Linda Bellingham to celebrate their courageous and outstanding achievements.

Wet Wet Wet performed a surprise performance, to the delight of the winners and their families. Graeme, from Wet Wet Wet says, “We’ve just performed and it was an absolutely amazing experience to play to such a dedicated audience in honor of such special and unique people in the world as mothers.”

Nominated by close friends or relatives, the 11 winners are chosen by Tesco Magazine from over 3,000 entries for outstanding achievements across categories including ‘Lifetime Achievement’, ‘Supportive Mum’ and ‘Overall Winner’. There is no doubt that Jakki is fully deserving of the title ‘Overall Winner’.

Tesco Magazine judges said of Jakki, ‘Courageous, achieving, inspirational, positive; the resolve that makes her a most remarkable woman, and we are proud to be able to recognise her as our 2008 ‘Overall Winner’.

On hearing about her award, Kym said, ‘I’m shocked and thrilled to have won this award from Tesco magazine. And I feel humbled to have won alongside such amazing mums, whose stories are truly incredible. I brought lots of tissues to the awards ceremony as I knew it would be a really emotional and inspiring day.’

Overall Award Winner - Jakki James Clarke, 38, Lincoln

There is no doubt that Jakki is fully deserving of the title ‘Overall Winner”. Jakki has lived through every parent’s worst fear. In 2002 she learnt that her beautiful 13-year-old daughter had been brutally murdered. Despite enduring this terrible ordeal, Jakki was determined to use her devastating experience to help others in their time of greatest suffering. It is due to her sheer courage, perseverance and selflessness that Jakki has been named Mum of the Year 2008.

Celebrity Award Winner – Kym Ryder, 31, Warrington

Corrie favourite Kym Ryder was named Tesco Magazine’s ‘Celebrity Mum of the Year 2008’. Kym, who plays barmaid Michelle Connor in Britain’s best loved soap, is devoted to her family, never letting her hectic schedule get in the way of being mum to David, 12 and Emily 10. Judges were impressed by Kym’s work-hard ethos and tireless dedication to charities including BeatBullying & Diabetes UK – she’s a role model to mums everywhere.

Achieving Mum Award Winner - Patricia Ayres, 62, Gloucester

At 19 years old, Pat’s daughter, Heather, now 34, was diagnosed as suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia. At the time, little information was known on the conditions and with no local support Pat knew she had to take action. After reading up on the life threatening illnesses and in light of her own experiences, in 2003 Pat set up the only eating disorder help group of its kind in Gloucester. Its success has been so huge that Pat received an MBE in recognition of her work.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner - Joan Robinson, 70, Burnley

Joan is a mother of ten children, five of which she has adopted. Joan has shown incredible commitment and ongoing support by opening her home to over 300 foster children over the past 42 years. Nominated by her adopted son Tommy, 39 he said, “I owe my parents everything. If they hadn’t fostered me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today”.

Courageous Mum Award - Virginia Prifti, 51, Wales

Virginia, 51, is from Swansea, Wales, In 2005 Virginia tragically lost her son Lawrence aged 8, to the rare degenerative disease Adrenoleukodystrophy, also known as ALD. Only a month after the loss of Lawrence, Virginia set up the Lawrence Roundabout Appeal aimed at providing fresh water to villages in South Africa and has to date raised £91,000 enabling 14 specialist roundabouts to be built in Lawrence’s name.

Supportive Mum award winner - Nikki Manders, 32, Nottinghamshire.

Nikki, mother of three, not only financially supports her family, but has been the emotional rock for her daughter, Saskia 6, suffering from cancer, her son, Josh 4, who is severely epileptic, and her youngest son Max, who has just started nursery. Nikki is also always busy raising money. So far she has managed to raise £2,500 to make Saskia’s dream of going to Disneyland Paris a reality. She is also planning a parachute jump (despite her fear of flying!) and to begin training to run a marathon with CLIC (Cancer and Leukeamia in Children Sargent).

Positive Mum Award - Elizabeth McNallen-Jones, 38, Worksop

Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer seven months into her first pregnancy. Devastatingly she was given just six months to live - not even long enough to see her child’s first steps. Elizabeth was determined to be a positive mother to her son and has struggled against the odds to regain her health and look after Thomas, now aged 3. Despite not yet having fully recovered her strength, Elizabeth is a phenomenally popular group Cub Scout Leader, a member of her Parish Church Council and three years ago she started a Children’s Forum, which pools the resources of groups and encourages social interaction for local children.

Best Children's Entry - Maureen May, 45, Essex

Maureen Nay, has been named Tesco Magazine’s ‘Best Children’s Entry Mum of the Year 2008’. After the tragic death of their father Errol to Meningitis, and then of their mother to Deep Vein Thrombosis, Christopher, Connor and Courtney Howell found themselves orphaned. Maureen Nay honored her sister’s wishes and in turn fulfilled her own dreams of having a family, by taking on full time care of her sister’s three boys, bringing them up as she would her own.

Most Charitable Mum Award - Gita Hindocha, 47, Middlesex

Gita Hindocha, has been named Tesco Magazine’s ‘Charitable Mum of the Year. As a mother of three, Gita not only makes time for her family, but also takes part in countless charity events. Her most recent challenge was climbing mount Kilimanjaro, raising a staggering £33,000. In addition to this, Gita has taken part in various walkathons and swimathons and also still finds time to improve the quality of life within her local Asian community.

Community Mum Award – Eileen Mullan, 49, N.Ireland

Eileen is a pivotal member of her community and despite juggling work as a doctor’s receptionist and a mother to three children, Eileen manages to find time as a volunteer in her community to help others and to raise money for charity. Eileen’s niece Jenny, 27, who lost her mum to cancer three years ago nominated Eileen, describing her as “a selfless individual who has devoted herself to helping her family and her community”.

Inspirational Mum Award - Jo Baker Watson, 49, Herefordshire

Jo Baker-Watson mother of three, already had a busy home life but when her daughter Megan was born with Cerebral Palsy Jo’s life was split between juggling life at home and traveling to Hungary to the Peto Institute, a place dedicated to improving the lives of children like Megan. Jo has used her experience to found Britain’s first free clinic, the ‘Megan Baker House’, dedicated to her daughter after she sadly passed away in 2001.

Tesco magazine crowns Kym Ryder as celebrity mum and Jakki James Clarke as overall winner in their third annual star-studded event.

Today, Sunday 2nd March 2008, Tesco Magazine held their third annual, star-studded ceremony, which took place within London’s glamorous Waldorf Hilton Hotel. The winning mums were joined by Celebrity Winner Kym Ryder, Patron/judge Sarah Brown, host Matthew Wright and celebrity guests including; Beverley Knight, Kelly Hoppen, Nicky Clarke, Gail Porter, Kay Burley and Linda Bellingham to celebrate their courageous and outstanding achievements.

Wet Wet Wet performed a surprise performance, to the delight of the winners and their families. Graeme, from Wet Wet Wet says, “We’ve just performed and it was an absolutely amazing experience to play to such a dedicated audience in honor of such special and unique people in the world as mothers.”

Nominated by close friends or relatives, the 11 winners are chosen by Tesco Magazine from over 3,000 entries for outstanding achievements across categories including ‘Lifetime Achievement’, ‘Supportive Mum’ and ‘Overall Winner’. There is no doubt that Jakki is fully deserving of the title ‘Overall Winner’.

Tesco Magazine judges said of Jakki, ‘Courageous, achieving, inspirational, positive; the resolve that makes her a most remarkable woman, and we are proud to be able to recognise her as our 2008 ‘Overall Winner’.

On hearing about her award, Kym said, ‘I’m shocked and thrilled to have won this award from Tesco magazine. And I feel humbled to have won alongside such amazing mums, whose stories are truly incredible. I brought lots of tissues to the awards ceremony as I knew it would be a really emotional and inspiring day.’

Overall Award Winner - Jakki James Clarke, 38, Lincoln

There is no doubt that Jakki is fully deserving of the title ‘Overall Winner”. Jakki has lived through every parent’s worst fear. In 2002 she learnt that her beautiful 13-year-old daughter had been brutally murdered. Despite enduring this terrible ordeal, Jakki was determined to use her devastating experience to help others in their time of greatest suffering. It is due to her sheer courage, perseverance and selflessness that Jakki has been named Mum of the Year 2008.

Celebrity Award Winner – Kym Ryder, 31, Warrington

Corrie favourite Kym Ryder was named Tesco Magazine’s ‘Celebrity Mum of the Year 2008’. Kym, who plays barmaid Michelle Connor in Britain’s best loved soap, is devoted to her family, never letting her hectic schedule get in the way of being mum to David, 12 and Emily 10. Judges were impressed by Kym’s work-hard ethos and tireless dedication to charities including BeatBullying & Diabetes UK – she’s a role model to mums everywhere.

Achieving Mum Award Winner - Patricia Ayres, 62, Gloucester

At 19 years old, Pat’s daughter, Heather, now 34, was diagnosed as suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia. At the time, little information was known on the conditions and with no local support Pat knew she had to take action. After reading up on the life threatening illnesses and in light of her own experiences, in 2003 Pat set up the only eating disorder help group of its kind in Gloucester. Its success has been so huge that Pat received an MBE in recognition of her work.

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner - Joan Robinson, 70, Burnley

Joan is a mother of ten children, five of which she has adopted. Joan has shown incredible commitment and ongoing support by opening her home to over 300 foster children over the past 42 years. Nominated by her adopted son Tommy, 39 he said, “I owe my parents everything. If they hadn’t fostered me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today”.

Courageous Mum Award - Virginia Prifti, 51, Wales