Volunteer fundraiser of the year
Howard Lake | 4 July 2008 | Blogs
This award recognises the enormous contribution made to fundraising throughout the UK by volunteers. The volunteer Fundraiser of the Year award is made to someone, or a team of people, who by their hard work, dedication and example, have made a difference to the charity or charities for whom they have worked.
And the shortlisted entries, in alphabetical order are:
Peter Chapman and Richard Raymond
These two men have for the last 10 years run a Christmas Tree collection campaign to raise funds for charity and for the last seven years East Cheshire Hospice has been the sole beneficiary. Over £100,000 has so far been donated to the Hospice so far. The success of the campaign depends on a publicity campaign, with posters, leaflets and articles in local press and hospice volunteers. Over 1,000 volunteer hours are given each year. The support from local business, MPs and the local council is recognition of their efforts and the campaign grows year on year.
Liam Fairhurst
Liam 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, and swim a mile on the anniversary of his last treatment. This was also in memory of his friend Jack who Liam met during his hospital stay. Liam garnered local radio support and with their help his original target of £1,000 was smashed and he raised £12,000. A television appearance raised over £50K to fund a holiday home on the east coast for families to take a break from the stresses of treatment. Liam was nominated for a Diana Award by his school. He set himself a new target of £100,000, but was rediagnosed with cancer in his lung before achieving this. However, he had inspired so many other people, that his local community, school, newspaper and many businesses decided to help and raised a staggering £150,000. Liam also received the Young Person of the year Award 2007 for Cambridgeshire and the Cambridge Evening News Child of Courage award.
Elizabeth Haycock
Elizabeth was the longer serving Marie Curie nurse in Northants, and she now works with her husband Barry running a farm, but still fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care. For the past 20 years she has organised a fundraising day and evening in her home and each year generates between £3,500 and £4,000. She is indispensable to the local fundraising team and can always be relied upon to help with the organisation of fundraising events and to sell tickets to her wide circle of friends. She regularly gives talks about her work as a Marie Curie nurse to local schools and groups, inspiring others to support the charity. She also works hard to involve the local Young Farmers Club in fundraising and they co-ordinate the annual great Daffodil Appeal Collections. She received a special commendation at the charity’s annual volunteer achievement awards – something that is only given when immense dedication has been shown over a number of years.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.