PEOPLE power in Stourbridge is in the running for a major newspaper award following our campaign to save lives in Africa.

The Stourbridge News Well of Life appeal has been selected to appear in this year’s Making a Difference showcase at the Society of Editors Regional Press Awards.

The awards ceremony takes place on Friday May 20, during Local Newspaper Week (May 16-22) and your votes can make the appeal a winner for the hundreds of fundraisers who supported creating a new source of water in poverty-hit Gambia.

The appeal, by The News in conjunction with Ridgewood High School, Wollaston, raised a massive £12,350 – smashing the £10,000 target to pay for the installation of a water pump and irrigation system in the village of Sintet.

The appeal was launched after an eight-year-old boy fell to his death while trying to reach water in one of the crude, hand-drawn wells in the region.

On Monday May 16 an online poll will go live for readers to have their say on which of 32 shortlisted appeals by local newspapers from around Britain will win the prestigious accolade of best appeal at the awards.

The Well of Life appeal took place during the course of last year ahead of a visit to Sintet by Ridgewood pupils, where they saw the completion of the new solar powered well and irrigation system.

The campaign attracted support from hundreds of people and groups in Stourbridge including big-hearted businessman Geoff Hill, who donated £1,000, and town MP Margot James.

Pete Wallace, Stourbridge News assistant editor, said: “Our whole community has come together to turn what was just a pipedream into reality, and left Sintet a legacy which will transform the lives of the 4,500 villagers for generations to come.”

Hundreds of daily and weekly newspapers participate in the Local Newspaper Week and Making a Difference celebrates powerful campaigning by local media undertakes on behalf of its readers.

The online vote is open for just three days, from Monday May 16 until Wednesday May 18, to show your support and vote for the Well of Life Appeal click here.