Meath River Rescue chairperson is first Meath Rehab People of Year Award winner

Almost 300 people from all over the county came together to celebrate the inaugural Meath Rehab People of the Year Awards last Friday night at Trim's Knightsbrook Hotel when Christopher Rennicks, representing the Meath River Rescue Service, was named overall winner. Mr Rennicks, chairperson of the local river rescue group, will now go forward to the national final of the Rehab People of the Year Awards to be held in Dublin in 2012. He was nominated for the award for Andrena Milligan Crahan, whose brother, Garvan, went missing in early 2011. She described Mr Rennicks and his team as a lifeline for her family as they searched and dived rivers and lakes in the area her brother went missing. Radio and TV personality Marty Whelan compered the gala black tie event, saying he was delighted to be involved with such an inspirational and uplifting event in County Meath. He invited all the members of the Meath River Rescue squad present at the function up onto the stage as the award was presented. Mr Rennicks said the award was not just for him but for all his colleagues who carried out the difficult job of searching watercourses for missing loved ones. Only some of those who make up the Meath River Rescue squad were present at Friday's function as the others were on standby in case of a call-out. The People Of The Year Awards has come about this year thanks to Rehab in the county, with support from the Meath Chronicle, Meath County Council and a host of other sponsors. All funds raised from the Meath People Of The Year Awards will go directly to Rehab services in County Meath. More than 220 people with learning difficulties and disabilities use the five Rehab centres that are based in the county, with an age range from three to over 70. The other shortlisted nominees for the awards were Penny McGowan of the Kells Pink Ribbon Walk; Aimee Devins (11) from Tara, who takes care of her little sister, Leah, who has spina bifida; Sister Mary Paschal, a Loreto Sister in Navan with a formidable fundraising record; John Grant, a long-time leading light in the Kells Musical & Dramatic Society; Margot Davis, chairperson and founder of the Navan Mental Health Association; Deirdre Murphy of the Meath Women's Refuge; Jan Muyllaert, a committed volunteer with the Navan Arch Club; Martina O'Keeffe and Leanne Flood, who saved the life of an 18-month-old toddler who was drowning in a paddling pool, and Mark Brady, the Navan man who has dedicated his life to assisting the Tarahumara people of Mexico. Following a four-course meal and presentation of awards to all those nominated, and the overall trophy, attendees danced the night away to the sounds of The Hughes Bros.