It was a pleasure to be at the Npower North East Disability Awards at Durham County Cricket Club this afternoon.

It is one of my favourite events of the year because the stories which emerge are so inspiring.

It is an occasion which makes you think that anything is possible if you are willing to try hard enough.

No one symbolises the sporting spirit better than Male Personality of the Year, Stephen Miller, from Cramlington.

Stephen had already won three Paralympic golds, in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, when he competed at the Beijing Paralympics.

Despite his training being hampered, and under extreme pressure with his last throw, Stephen threw a personal best to win silver.

Asked how hard it had been to come to terms with being beaten, Stephen said the worst thing had been having to endure the Tunisian national anthem while he was on the rostrum.

"I don't know if you know it but it goes on for ages," he said.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for an award. The roll of honour will be in tomorrow morning's Northern Echo.