Laura Hughes Nominated as Finalist for NW (Regional) Pride of Britain Awards.
We are thrilled to announce that Laura Hughes, founder of the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign , has been nominated for the prestigious Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year Award for the North West.
Laura’s journey began in 2019, driven by the tragic murder of her brother, Colin McGinty, who was just 21 years old when he was stabbed 15 times in a case of mistaken identity after a night out in Liverpool in 2001. To honor what would have been Colin’s 40th birthday, Laura established the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign to raise awareness and tackle the growing issue of knife crime in the UK.
Since its inception, the campaign has raised over £115,000 for life-saving bleeding control kits and cabinets, and has been actively engaged in knife crime prevention efforts across the country. Laura believes in the importance of having these kits readily available, stating, “What happened to Colin is happening more and more. Wherever you see anyone socializing, we want to have equipment there.”
Laura’s commitment is unwavering. In 2019, she completed her first marathon—a personal challenge that kickstarted her fundraising efforts for the campaign. This year, she inspired over 16,000 schoolchildren across Sefton to participate in a running relay, using bleed control kits as a baton, which raised significant funds for additional kits and cabinets to be placed near classrooms.
Upon receiving the news of her nomination, Laura expressed her excitement: “I cannot believe that I have been nominated. I am completely over the moon. It would be the biggest motivator to keep going. It’s such a good accolade to have and makes what we’re doing more credible. The more people that are engaged with the campaign, the more lives saved.”
Laura’s efforts have made a real impact in the community, and this recognition reflects her dedication to creating a safer environment for young people.
Stay tuned as the awards ceremony approaches, and join us in celebrating Laura’s inspiring journey and the vital work being done through the #kNOwKnifeCrime campaign.
