The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards are proof that not all superheroes wear capes

Real heroes

NOT all superheroes wear capes, many just walk among us unnoticed as we go about our lives.

We never know who they are until we need their help — and often they don’t even realise they are heroes.

That’s the reason for The Sun’s annual Who Cares Wins awards, so that we can celebrate those people who go above and beyond to make our lives better.

This year, the tough times the world has endured with coronavirus have only spurred them on to fight back harder.

Take mechanic Barney Jones, who selflessly had only one day off in nine months to ensure ambulances were kept on the road during the pandemic.

Or the fabulous scientists who so quickly created the cheap, effective Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine that is already estimated to have saved thousands upon thousands of lives.

Our Christina Newbury Award for the Jabs Army of fantastic vaccine volunteers means that many of YOU reading this right now are award-winners, and worthy ones too.

The amazing achievements weren’t just limited to the Covid fight, though.

Take seven-year-old muscular dystrophy sufferer Carmela Chillery-Watson, who brilliantly does wear a superhero cape to walk and cycle hundreds of miles to raise money for charity.

We thank all those who helped with the awards, from the organisers to the celebrities and most of all our nominees and winners themselves.

In a world that can sometimes leave us numbed by compassion fatigue, not one of their stories fails to stir emotion.

If you watched the ceremony – sponsored by the National Lottery – on Channel 4 last night, you’ll know exactly what we mean.

And if you didn’t, you can still see it on the All 4 catch-up service.

As well as the heartwarming sight of some of the bravest, kindest people on the planet being honoured, we hope their feats can inspire the rest of us to follow their example, even just a fraction.

Saint Greavsie

JIMMY Greaves was the striker who hardly ever missed — but he’ll be sorely missed after his death aged 81 yesterday.

The Spurs and Chelsea hotshot is still the leading scorer in English top-flight history, despite having retired aged 31.

2

Injury cruelly cost him his place in England’s 1966 World Cup final win, yet he netted 44 goals in 57 international games — a ratio even Cristiano Ronaldo can’t match — without a single penalty.

But it was after his playing days were over that he formed his most fondly remembered partnership, as a telly presenter with Ian St John.

And of course Sun readers treasured his wit and wisdom in the column he wrote for us for three decades.

As Greavsie famously liked to say, football is a funny old game.

But it will be less fun without him.

• The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards is available to stream on All 4