An inspirational grandma whose business was there for women when they needed her has followed her dreams and gone on to see her name in print.
With The Sunshine Fund's annual fast-approaching, we caught up with one of the first-ever winners to hear about the success she's had in the seven years since she won her award.
Gill Burnett, now 54, set up her women-only taxi service after she lost her job in the 2008 financial crisis.
Working in a pub, but wanting more from life, the single mum was inspired by her protective instincts towards her then-15-year-old daughter who, she announced, wouldn't be getting in a taxi with a stranger.
Gill won the customer service award for the business she set up, Driving Miss Daisy, which soon became hugely popular around her Burnopfield home.
Since the birth of her grandson, Freddy, she's trading taxi driving in for more regular hours at a local garage, but is still using her taxi driving experience to create something impressive.
Gill has just published her second novel, Note Taken, a follow up to her first story, Take Note. The episodic novels follow the people through whose hands pass a single £10 note, with the sequel returning to the characters from the first story three years later.
She said: "In the taxi I was with people all the time, I took people to have babies, took them to hospital appointments: I've been there with people when they get a cancer diagnosis, I've been the first person to know before even their families. It was much more than just being a taxi driver - sometimes it was like a confessional booth.
"It helped me realise that everyone has a story, it doesn't matter how small you think it is, it can be quite significant in their lives. I had a head full of stories, I've always been a storyteller, so I wanted to write something.
"I self-published the first book and a lot of people read it and liked it and asked me 'what happened to these characters next?' so I thought I would go back.
"It can be difficult to get into writing: there is still quite a lot of snobbishness in the publishing world unless you come from that background, you're academic or have connections. I don't have those things, I just love telling stories, so I wanted to do it myself.
"People read them, and liked them, and I'm very happy with that."
Once again this year the awards will recognise amazing women from across our region. And there is one category which is decided by public vote.
Voting for our Woman in the Community award closes on Friday, so make sure you cast your vote to help honour an individual who is dedicated to making a real difference to people’s lives in our communities.
Gill says winning an award herself was an "amazing" experience, and she'd encourage everyone to cast their votes for the outstanding woman they most feel deserves the honour.
She said: "I was absolutely shocked even to be nominated, and when I won I just couldn't grasp it.
"I'm quite a shy person and I wouldn't normally push myself forward so it was just mindblowing to win.
"Everything I do, I try to do my best in, whether it's being a mum or a grandma or a friend, a work colleague or an author. I think that's true for a lot of women, so if you're thinking of voting for someone, I would definitely say go for it, it's amazing to be recognised for what you do."
Take Note and Note Taken by Gill Burnett are both available on Amazon now.
