Revealed: East Midlands ITV Fundraiser of the Year

  • Central
Pride of Britain awards Credit: ITV

We've been introducing you to our four finalists for ITV Fundraiser of the Year in the East Midlands all week - and now we can finally reveal our overall winner.

It's Jess Simpkin from Rainworth near Mansfield. She's has been battling brain tumours since childhood, but that hasn't stopped her fight to raise money in the hope of finding a cure - raising more than £23,000 so far.

You can read more about Jess' story here.

  • Watch the moment Jess learned from our presenter Sameena Ali-Khan that she was the overall East Midlands winner.

Our ITV News Central panel was joined by guest judge Claire Lomas, the inspirational fundraiser who completed the London Marathon wearing a bionic suit back in 2012.

It was a tough decision, but after much deliberation the panel decided on Jess as this year's East Midlands winner.

  • Watch the panel's deliberations over who to crown as the winner below.

The judges were impressed by Jess' incredible cheerfulness and strength despite having to deal with brain tumours for almost her entire life, as well as the lengths she's gone to as part of her fundraising.

  • Click below to hear from Claire Lomas about why the judges felt Jess should be the East Midlands Fundraiser of the Year.

You can see more on all the nominees in the Midlands here.