For Faith the guide dog puppy, the thick snow which has covered county is a dream come true.

SUFFOLK: For Faith the guide dog puppy, the thick snow which has covered county is a dream come true.

The adorable pup is being trained by her walker, Penny Parker, thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts of Evening Star readers who donated thousands to pay for her training.

Mrs Parker was also one of the winners of the first Stars of Suffolk awards for her charity work for Guide Dogs for the Blind as well as running the 1st Old Felixstowe Brownies - and today, the kind-hearted 45-year-old urged other unsung heroes to step forward for next year's celebration.

She said: “The people who deserve these awards are not going to nominate themselves.

“The awards are a fantastic recognition that people appreciate what you do.”

In the second year of our special awards, which are organised in conjunction with Suffolk County Council, we are scouring the county to find the community champions who have made a difference to someone's life.

Whether they are a selfless neighbour or a courageous volunteer, we want to hear about the people who have shown outstanding compassion, courage or kindness.

Nigel Pickover, editor of the Evening Star, said: “The people who live here have some exceptional stories to tell but they often won't tell them themselves.

“These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things and we want to hear the stories that will give our judges some very difficult decisions.”

The awards fall into 13 categories, including Carer of the Year, Search and Rescue Person of the Year, Social Worker of the Year and Outstanding Bravery.

If you know someone who fits the bill, drop us a line and tell us why you think they deserve the accolade.

Jeremy Pembroke, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “The Stars of Suffolk is about people stepping out that extra mile with acts of kindness or consideration that makes a huge difference to someone else's life.”

Nominees will be invited to a gala evening hosted by BBC Radio Suffolk breakfast presenter Mark Murphy at Endeavour House in Ipswich on March 30, to discover if they have won a well-earned prize.

To nominate your chosen star, call 01473 264387 to request a nomination form or register online at www.starsofsuffolk.org.uk