Awards

This award is for any volunteer who has made a major contribution to fundraising, over a long period of time, for one or more organisations.

Volunteer fundraisers are the life blood of a charity. It is hard to choose one out of many deserving candidates. It’s even harder to choose between the three finalists tonight, all of whom deserve our admiration. But the young man who receives this award is special even by those special standards.

He was diagnosed with cancer in his leg at the age of 11. After undergoing gruelling treatment to remove the tumour, he decided he wanted to give something back to the charity that had supported him, CLIC Sargent. He swam a mile on the anniversary of his final treatment. He swam it not just for himself, but in memory of his friend Jack whom he had met in hospital.

He garnered local radio support for his swim. With their help, his original target of £1,000 was smashed: he raised £12,000. A television appearance followed, raising over £50,000 to fund a holiday home on the east coast for families who need a break from the stresses of treatment. Already nominated for a Diana Award by his school, he is a worthy winner tonight.