Do you know a stalwart community champion, a remarkable volunteer, a mum or dad who really goes above and beyond? The Comet Community Awards are your chance to celebrate these unsung North Herts heroes – and nominations are now open.

The Comet: Comet Community Awards 2016: Sarah Cummins with Peter Brown of sponsor Ken Brown Motors and host David Croft.Comet Community Awards 2016: Sarah Cummins with Peter Brown of sponsor Ken Brown Motors and host David Croft. (Image: Archant)

Letchworth single mum-of-four Sarah Cummins – who runs the Garden City Montessori School, teaches boxing and much more – won last year’s Parent in a Million category after being put forward by daughters Eloise and Abigail, who called her the ‘best mum ever’.

And last week she told the Comet how it felt a year on to have been recognised in this way.

“Having my girls nominate me for Parent in a Million was such an heart-warming moment,” she said.

“Being a parent isn’t always the most rewarding job, and to hear that the girls recognised my efforts and hard work was lovely but emotional.

“Eloise has had a challenging time with mental illness and being in hospital for 17 months, but for me I just needed to support her.

“As a single parent, Abigail was my saviour at home, looking after her younger brothers while I visited Eloise four to five times a week.

“To realise they were aware of all this and so grateful was amazing. As a parent you don’t do things for recognition but it’s nice when they acknowledge and appreciate you.

“When I got the call to say I was a finalist, I was in shock. I don’t see anything I did as special.

“When my name was called as the winner the girls were hugging me, it was so lovely to see how proud they were.

“Winning was as much a testimony to my children as to me. Their strength and love helped me at a very difficult time for our family.

“They continue to make me proud and now use my award to remind me when I lose my patience that I wouldn’t get the award for that!

“They also use it to remind me that when things are tough, we can still get through it.”

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised, tell us all about it at cometcommunityawards.co.uk, where you will be able to see all of the available categories and make your nominations. All finalists will be invited to a special awards ceremony at the Icknield Centre in Letchworth on May 19.