They are people who go above and beyond to help their communities, yet ask for nothing in return.
But now those unsung heroes have been given their just rewards at the inaugural Stars of Lowestoft and Waveney Awards.
The glittering ceremony was launched by the EDP and our sister paper, the Lowestoft Journal, for the first time only a few weeks ago.
Yet dozens of nominations were sent in for people doing extraordinary things who they felt should be honoured in a range of categories.
These included the Young Person of the Year and the Community Champion of the Year Award.
In the end, it was 23-year-old Adele Bellis who scooped the Overall Star award for the way she has bravely fought back to recover against a horrific acid attack which took place in Pakefield last year.
Other winners – which included the Waveney cancer support group Can-cervive and the Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguard Corps – also deservedly collected prizes and showed why the area has so much to be proud of.
Mayor of Lowestoft Stephen Ardley, who helped organise last night's event at the Hotel Victoria, in Kirkley, said: 'These awards can claim to be the very best of them all.
'We are honouring ordinary folk –people who do extraordinary things in their communities, yet ask for nothing in return. That's what makes them so very special.'
Nigel Pickover, editor-in-chief of the EDP, said: 'There are hundreds of people whose dedication to the community goes overlooked and
we hope this is an opportunity to
give them the recognition they deserve.'
Sponsors for the event included Waveney Norse, Sentinel Leisure, the Hotel Victoria, Lings Motor Group, Waveney District Council, Hoseasons, Pleasurewood Hills, the Marina Theatre, Archant and Kingsley Healthcare.
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