Jan Malatesta

I am nominating my mother Jan. Jan is not only as inspiration to me as a mother, but respected and loved by all her family, friends, work colleagues and the young people she works with. She works at connexions and has been with this service for around ten years. Mum works within a challenging school where a lot of the young people are quite vulnerable and come from chaotic family backgrounds. She ALWAYS puts these young people's interests first, and makes sure that they are not forgotten when everyone else has given up on them. Outside of work mum is always organising charity events. In 2010 she ran her first marathon in Dublin for a local charity Myton Hospice. Myton was an organisation close to all our hearts as it is where my grandfather spent his final days. This year for Red Nose Day she raised over £7,000 by organising a sponsored knitathon in Coventry Cathedral. Around 750 people turned up to the event - mum got the whole city working together to raise money and have fun, getting the local newspaper, radio and news team on board. What mum was most pleased with though, was the spirit of the city and being able to bring lonely older folk together and involved in something special. She is currently planning her second marathon, and is hoping for London 2012. Jan will always go the extra mile to help out anyone in need. She has a big heart and her door is always open for advice, comfort, laughs and of course new challenges...