Portraits of Today’s Everyday Heroes
When a collaboration between protein drink maker ‘For Goodness Shakes’ and Marvel Studios come together to mark the release of Captain America: Brave New World, where better to commemorate the union than in the Mash Paddle Brewery, a stalwart of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, writes Michael Holland.
But with Captain America busy promoting his film in Trump-torn USA, real heroes were needed for a photographic exhibition that lauded true heroism, so a call was put out for nominations for the nation’s unsung heroes who volunteer their time to help others – And Britain came through.
Men and women across the UK were put forward for Portraits of Today’s Everyday Heroes – often without their knowledge – and this week, they assembled in SE16 to launch an exhibition of their portraits taken by David Wren.
As they arrived at Mash Paddle Taproom, without capes and fanfare, they appeared normal, but when you spoke to them and heard their stories, their magnificence grew and grew.
Sue Hickey, born and bred in Southend, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in 2021. Some people would give up right then, but Sue became motivated to inspire others to be positive and fight the cancer. She led by example and accepted challenges to fundraise. When the doctors told her not to continue running and swimming, Sue adapted her exercise regime: ‘A week after one operation,’ she says, ‘I was at Parkrun, but walking instead of running.’ She swears by positivity as a way of battling the disease, and even when she lost all her hair, her baldness got her a part in a Zombie film. She laughs as she relates the tale. That led to small parts in more movies.
Sue joined Bosom Pals, a group that helps people going through cancer, and last month she completed a challenge to help Motor Neurone Disease.
Sue got the all-clear in 2023, but it never leaves her mind. ‘It’s always there,’ she says. But she says it with a smile.
Sophia Badhan had a troubled time as a teenager and didn’t feel that the health system helped her. Rather than accept the little care that was there, she ran a campaign for eating disorder awareness at school and set up charity fundraisers, campaigns that she took forward with her when she went on to university.
‘Looking back on it now,’ begins Sophia, ‘I don’t know how I managed to do my ‘A’ levels and degree while running campaigns, but looking back, I found that the social action gave me energy’.
Sophia’s reward, along with improving her own mental health, was ‘meeting such great people, having such great experiences and having such wonderful opportunities’.
Her work in mental health has now earned Sophia several well-deserved awards.
When just a boy, Teame Tesfamarian escaped Eritrea as the war for independence became bloodier, leaving some family members behind. His eldest brother was captured and executed.
Teame made a life here and became a black taxi driver but never forgot his homeland or the people who fought for its independence. He always kept his roots in Eritrea and had planned to go back for Martyrs Day in 2020 to run a 10k to honour those who had bravely fought as he had done in previous years. Covid stopped his plan, but he was determined to still run the 10k. He ran on his local streets while his wife recorded him and shared the video on social media. He started to get support online, and a friend suggested he run another 10k, this time to fundraise for The National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans (NAEWDV).
Together with his sons, Teame set the goal of raising £1,000, which they achieved, so they upped it to £2,000, which they achieved, so they kept raising their target. This inspired Teame to organise regular charity campaigns and fundraising events for the NAEWDV.
Teame spoke about the many Eritrean veterans who are getting lots of care – some 24/7 – to enable them to live as independently as they can and emphasises that he will not stop in raising the funds to keep that good work going.
David Wren spoke about the project: “It has been an incredible experience meeting and photographing our heroes for this project.
“Creating these images centred around each person’s lived experiences, so it’s important that the person being photographed felt comfortable and listened to, making for portraits that feel relatable and authentic. I spent some time researching the topics we’d cover so I could chat freely with each of our heroes, asking questions related to their story. There was no set script, just real and honest connection.
“Simply, each portrait is the product of a conversation, guided gently by the creative vision I have for each image and the heartwarming, vulnerable, and inspiring stories shared by our heroes.
“Making these photographs has been such a unique privilege and I’m honoured to have been involved in this beautiful project.”
All the winners of this extremely worthy award did not know that they had been nominated for the Everyday Hero accolade, an honour that came as a surprise to them because they don’t see themselves as others do. It was this humbleness that filled the room and made everyone else proud to be there with them.
The exhibition will raise funds for Volunteering Matters.
Mash Paddle Brewery Taproom, 92 Enid St, London SE16 3RD from 14th February until 13th March.
