A new prize is being made available in this year's Thurrock Civic Awards.

As well as the Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Mayor's Award and Freedom of the Borough, the 2002 accolades will include a Rachel Middleton award.

Last year Rachel, who fought to promote donor cards, won the Mayor's Award posthumously.

She died the previous December aged 18 after a 27-month wait for a heart, lung and liver transplant.

Award panel chairwoman Val Cook said: "The Mayor's Award is supposed to be for a single act of bravery or overcoming difficulties, but when we received Rachel's nomination there was no doubt she should receive it.

"The Rachel award will go to a nomination of similar calibre."

For more information, or for tickets, call Karen Leech on 01375 652335.

Published Thursday August 15, 2002

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