A MUM has dedicated a community award to her daughter who died from leukaemia.

who founded a charity to raise money and awareness for blood cancer has won an award in memory of her daughter who died from leukaemia.

Andrea Childs founded a charity to raise money and awareness for blood cancer after her daughter Beth's death. 

Her work was recognised when she was named Volunteer or Fundraiser of the Year at this year’s Dudley Borough Community Awards in honour of her work on Beth's Sunflowers.

In an emotional moment after securing the top prize at the ceremony, the Kingswinford mum remembered her daughter.

She said: “All of this is for Beth. 

“She would be so proud of this, and of every one of our achievements.

“I can’t accept that she’s gone, even to this day, but ever since I’ve just thought I’ve got to do something.”

Beth died after battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer known as ALL, just months before her 21st birthday in 2018.

After losing her beloved daughter, Andrea, who is also an ambassador for Cure Leukaemia, has created award-winning sunflower gardens in Beth’s name and established Beth’s Sunflowers – an organisation that sells products made from sunflower seeds raising money for blood cancer charities.

Their border was voted People's Choice at the BBC Gardener's World Live 2024An image of Beth behind the award-winning floral border in her name (Image: Beth's Sunflowers) In the six years since Beth died, Andrea and her team of volunteers have raised over £37,000 for various blood cancer charities and have picked up several awards at BBC Gardener’s World in both 2023 and 2024 for their stunning and meaningful floral displays of Beth’s favourite flower.

However, her win at the Dudley Community Awards on Thursday, November 21, is not the only thing Andrea has been celebrating this week.

On Wednesday, a day before the awards, she was told Beth’s Sunflowers is now an official registered charity in England and Wales.

Speaking about this milestone, Andrea said: “We’ve been trying for three years, and we now have an official registered charity number, meaning we can approach massive organisations with our work.

“It’s going to take it to another level.”

Andrea was nominated for the Dudley Community Award, run by Newsquest, by Justine Hand, a fellow trustee at Beth’s Sunflowers.

When nominating Andrea, Justine said: “Andrea representing Beth's Sunflowers fundraising organisation is totally deserving of this award in 2024.

“Since losing her daughter Beth, aged 20 in 2018, Andrea has worked tirelessly often working seven days a week, alongside running her own company to raise money to help find a cure to blood cancers and support patients and their families currently suffering with the condition.

“Beth always loved fundraising, when she was seven she raised £20 from selling her teddies and toys to raise money for the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami and she continued as she got older to run in the Race for Life each year with her friends.

“Andrea, despite her tremendous grief, wanted to continue Beth’s work and threw herself aided by friends, family and Beth’s best friends into doing just that.”

Andrea shows no signs of slowing down her fundraising efforts, confirming Beth’s Sunflowers will be returning to BBC Gardener’s World next year, with their eyes set on taking the gold.