ARMY personnel and charity fundraisers have been put forward to be the Barrow Christmas Lights Switch-on Star.

The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, which has serving soldiers from across south Cumbria, has been nominated for the honour of lighting up the town's big Christmas celebration on Saturday November 19.

The regiment has the freedom of the borough. It has two regular army battalions, 1 Lancs and 2 Lancs, and one army reserve battalion, 4 Lancs.

Those nominating the regiment said armed forces should be recognised at a town celebration. They said: "What better way to show them they are appreciated by giving them the honour of having a representative to switch on the lights. Many of those in the regiment are from Barrow and the local area, they are our real life heroes and should be honoured in this way."

Fundraisers, inspired by a young girl fighting leukaemia, have also been nominated to be a Switch-on Star.

Gemma Woodburn and others have raise thousands of pounds in aid Ward 84 of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group, most recently through a Halloween party.

Mrs Woodburn, her son Kian Costly and the community of Barrow's St James CE Junior School, are inspired by Aimee Robinson, 11, of Barrow, who is a patient at The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Kian, 11, rallied a Coniston to Barrow team to walk as Aimee's Army and also sold wrist bands and completed a 20-mile bike ride for the charities.

Aimee received numerous nominations to be the Switch-on Star herself, but she is unable to attend the event as she is in hospital.

Those nominating Mrs Woodburn and the fundraisers said: "It would be nice for Gemma to be on stage with her son and a couple of school friends of Aimee.

"Gemma has done countless things to help the Robinson family and raise awareness for this evil disease, I think it just would be nice for her to get some recognition for all the hard work she's done throughout this year.

This year Barrow Community Christmas Events, a group of volunteers, stepped in to save Barrow's Christmas celebration. The big event focuses on community spirit, so a deserving hero, or heroes, will switch on the town's Christmas lights.

The Switch-on Star will join Father Christmas and the Barrow mayor, Councillor Anita Husband, on stage.

There will be entertainment in Town Square from 3pm with a host of talented local entertainers and bright young performers.

Nomination for the Switch-on Star close today at midnight. The individuals or groups must be associated with Barrow borough.

You can still nominate someone at the Evening Mail website.

A panel of judges will select the Switch-on Star, or Stars.

You can still nominate someone by clicking here

A panel of judges will select the Switch-on Star, or Stars.

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