The Broons Awards: Our family heroes looking to make the world a better place

The Broons Awards finalists in our Family Heroes category, though, are something else again.

Despite their own serious troubles, they’ve kept the morale of their own families high, through thick and thin.

Somehow they have also found the strength, time and commitment to help others in their own communities.

We think you’ll agree, they are heroes, one and all.

Keith Swankie: Constant campaigner

KEITH SWANKIE lives every day with a debilitating disease called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

On a bad day, his condition leaves him needing emergency medical care.

His neck muscles are pulled back, his trachea goes into spasm and he gasps for air so desperately, paramedics have to be called.

Keith and wife Sheelagh realised that PSP is a little-known condition, even in the medical profession. Medics have often been baffled by his symptoms and Sheelagh has resorted to handing out information cards.

Despite struggling with his condition, Keith posted a film on YouTube to raise awareness and it has been viewed more than 14,000 times.

He also secured an awareness-raising reception at the Scottish Parliament in 2015. One of the outcomes of Keith’s campaigning has been the creation of a new Clinical Research Fellowship in Scotland.

Keith, of Arbroath, is modest about his achievements.

“I’m delighted and humbled to be nominated for a Broons Award,” he says.

“I couldn’t have achieved it without friends and family behind me. There was a need to get awareness out there, so others who have PSP don’t have to endure what we’ve gone through.”

Keith has an amazingly positive attitude.

“I’ve always had a ‘never give up’ approach to life,” he says. “That has left me more determined as things have got worse.”

Andrew Robertson: Fundraising through serious illness

IN 2008, Andrew was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening illness called Wegener’s granulomatosis (now renamed granulomatosis with polyangiitis).

It was a blow most people would struggle to cope with. Andrew continued working through his gruelling treatment – six months of chemotherapy – and shortly after completing it ran the Great North Run.

Andrew has since endured several serious complications, including a threat to his eyesight. But he has raised more than £11,000 for various charities and is continuing to fundraise this year by completing 10 triathlons.

Shortly after Andrew completed his first treatment, his mother-in-law became ill and spent several months in intensive care. He supported both her and his dad, who has had two accidents and six ops in the past three years.

Andrew laughs off any praise and is shocked at his Broons Awards nomination.

“I know how many people read The Sunday Post so it feels like an achievement just to get nominated,” he says. “It hasn’t sunk in.”

Andrew, of Chester-le-Street, remains cheerful and upbeat despite the huge problems he and his family have endured.

“When I first got diagnosed, it sent me into a massive depression,” he says. “I told myself to think of all the good work others had done for me – doctors, family, etc.

“When I started running again it helped, so I thought I might as well fundraise while I was doing it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

Sharon and John Stobbs: Supporting families with autism

SHARON and John have four children between 12 and 21 who are all on the autism spectrum.

Victoria was seriously ill as a baby. Frazer was also ill and endured major surgery.

It’s fair to say that the Stobbs family have had challenges along the way, including caring for gran Margaret through vascular dementia.

They’ve got more on their plate than most of us. But Sharon and John run the South Ayrshire Autistic Society and support other families within the area.

And they insist there have always been families going through harder times than them.

“The trials and tribulations of life for autistic families mean we have a lot of similar ups and downs,” says Sharon.

“We cry at the sad times and laugh through the good ones together. We’d hate to think of families struggling on their own.”

John believes the support they give to other families is rewarding in itself.

“When kids who struggle to communicate say hello, and you see the smile on their parents’ faces, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Sharon and John are stunned by their nomination.

“We feel elated. It is lovely to have the recognition, but we don’t feel any different to any other family,” Sharon says.