Pride of Britain - ITV West Country's Fundraiser of the Year nominees 2016

Pride of Britain Credit: Pride of Britain

Earlier this year we launched our hunt for the ITV Fundraiser of the Year as part of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.

We were overwhelmed by the number of nominations but a judging panel has come up with a shortlist of four for the West and South West regions.

We'll announce the winners on Friday - here are the inspirational stories of our nominees for ITV Fundraiser of the Year.

West nominees:

Natalia Spencer

Natalia Spencer is currently walking right around the coast of Great Britain to raise money for Bristol Children's Hospital, after the death of her five year old daughter, Elizabeth. So far she has raised more than £75,000 and the total keeps rising. She recently passed John o' Groats, a major milestone on what she calls her 'Walk of Love'.

Sasha Johnston

Sasha Johnston, who works as a paramedic in Bristol, has been shortlisted for her part in raising tens of thousands of pounds for her friend and colleague Kath Osmond, to help fund her last-chance cancer treatment. She helped organise an epic dance off in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge with more than 100 of her ambulance service colleagues.

Ben Smith

Ben Smith from Portishead made national news headlines when he completed an extraordinary challenge, running the equivalent of 401 marathons in 401 days. He has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity to combat bullying. He was bullied himself at school - so badly he even attempted suicide. As part of his marathon tour of Britain, he has also visited more than 100 schools to spread the anti-bullying message and inspire young people.

Heidi Loughlin

Heidi Loughlin, a police officer from Portishead, is described as an inspiration by others who, like her, are battling cancer. She postponed chemotherapy to protect her unborn child, putting her own health at greater risk. Her daughter, Ally, sadly died when she was just days old. Heidi has raised thousands of pounds for Bristol's Special Care Baby Unit and continues to inspire others with her remarkably honest blog.

South West Nominees

Melissa Mead

It was in December 2014 that tragedy struck Melissa Mead's life when her one year old son William died from Sepsis. Despite it being a condition that kills more than 44,000 people a year in the UK, many people have never heard of it. Well since her son's death, Melissa's campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and through her campaigning has raised thousands of pounds for The UK Sepsis Trust, work which has seen her nominated for a Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year Award.

Martin Lynn

If you live in the Exeter area, there's a huge chance you'll have heard of Martin Lynn and his Fez Army, a group of people who raise money for a local cancer charity. Since being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Martin has ploughed all his energies into fundraising and Martin does so by wearing - of all things - a Fez.

Naomi Thomas

For most people, you might expect if they were given the news they had terminal cancer they would have little energy for anything else in life - well not Naomi Thomas. Naomi, who knows her cancer is terminal set up her own charity to organise weddings for couples where either the bride or groom has a terminal illness or a life limiting condition.

Nigel Libby

After years of caring for both his son and daughter who were both born with life limiting conditions, Nigel Libby knows only too well, what life is like as a carer. Well for nearly ten years he's fundraised to set up a place where families who have terminally ill children or children with life-long conditions, can have a break.