BBC award to honour Anne Williams
Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams, who passed way in April this year, is to be honoured at Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
The Helen Rollason Award will be accepted on her behalf by her daughter Sara, son Michael, and brother Danny, during the live show in Leeds on December 15.
The award is presented to someone who has shown outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
Anne was a tireless campaigner for a new inquest for her son Kevin, who died at the Hillsborough disaster on April 15, 1989.
She fought for over 20 years, refusing to accept the coroner's findings in the controversial first inquest, and joined other victims' families in campaigning for a fresh inquest.
Anne became a key spokesperson in calling for successive governments to re-examine evidence and apply for a new inquest. Her perseverance, along with that of her fellow campaigners, prompted the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, and her testimony and those of the witnesses she uncovered contributed towards new evidence the panel collated.
That led to the original verdicts being quashed by the High Court in December 2012, with new inquests ordered for all those who died at Hillsborough.
Anne's determination knew no bounds; continuing to campaign despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. She passed away earlier this year leaving an amazing legacy, sadly she didn't live to see the new inquests which will begin next spring.
Following the announcement, Anne's daughter, Sara, said: "My mum embodied the very reason this award was created; strength, determination and passion.
"Her tireless campaigning was driven by the love she had for her son Kevin and her dedication to seeking a new inquest. If anyone triumphed over adversity, it's my mum."
The Helen Rollason Award is presented in memory of the BBC presenter who died in 1999 at the age of 43 after suffering from cancer and acknowledges outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
Previous winners include horse-trainer, Jenny Pitman; Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; fundraiser, Jane Tomlinson; Sailor, Ellen MacArthur; Formula One's Frank Williams, and snooker-player, Paul Hunter (posthumous).