BBC search for unsung sports hero

The overall award will be announced during Sports Personality of the Year

The search has begun for BBC North East and Cumbria's Sports Unsung Hero of 2009.

We are looking for an individual who, on a voluntary basis, makes a real difference to sport within the region.

This person will give their time and talents to enable others to participate in sport.

They may help an individual, team or teams, must not gain financial reward for their time and must be aged 16 years or over.

You can find out how to nominate someone for the award at the bottom of this page.

Driving force

A regional judging panel, made up of a cross-section of BBC North East and Cumbria sports staff and other local sports experts, will decide the winner of the regional award.

That person will then be invited to attend the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year show at Sheffield Arena on Sunday 13 December, along with 14 other regional winners.

An overall winner of the Sports Unsung Hero Award will be announced during the live TV show.

Guy Fawkes was the 2008 North East and Cumbria Unsung Hero

Previous winners of the overall award include Margaret Simons, who runs Bardwell Football Club in Oxfordshire and Ben Geyser, the "driving force" behind Dorchester Boxing Club.

Last year's BBC North East and Cumbria winner, Guy Fawkes, was nominated for his work to help Billingham Swimming Club.

He has raised money so the club can buy heart-rate monitors, kit boards, pool buoys and lane ropes.

Nominate your Unsung Hero

HOW TO MAKE A NOMINATION For the nominations please download and complete the following PDF Form and return to the address below. BBC Unsung Hero Nomination Form(PDF) (36Kb) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here

Send the completed form before the closing date of Friday, 30 October 2009 to:

Helen Amess,
Sports Unsung Hero 2009,
BBC North East and Cumbria,
Broadcasting Centre,
Barrack Road,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE99 1RN.

Or e-mail your nomination form to Helen Amess

• To enter, you must ensure all the sections are filled in.
• Any nomination that doesn't include details of the nominee cannot be accepted.
• Your nominee must be informed and have agreed to being entered, nominees may be asked to appear on BBC TV and/or radio.
• The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding their decision.

The competition complies with the BBC's new Code of Conduct on Competitions and Voting which is published on the BBC's website.

Visit the BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2009 website.

For full Terms and Conditions, click on the link at the top right of this page.