The Points of Light Award is given to individuals around the UK who are making outstanding contributions to their communities and we are so proud some of our amazing fundraisers have received this prestigious award from the Prime Minister to commend their fantastic achievements. We are grateful to them and each and every one of our fundraisers who are all doing amazing things so we can support NHS staff, volunteers and patients in ways over and above what the NHS alone can provide.
Among recipients of the award are the Stockport Spidermen, AKA two friends Jason Baird and Andrew Baldock who have been delighting the residents of Stockport by dressing up as many people’s favourite superhero, raising over £30,000 for NHS Charities Together. They have been using their daily exercises as a chance to spread joy to families and children who can look out for their friendly neighbourhood Spiderman from their windows and complete fun physical challenges. On their JustGiving page they say they are raising money ‘for the real superheroes’ who are our NHS staff who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.
Olivia Strong, originally from Edinburgh, started the viral sensation Run for Heroes. The campaign encourages people to run 5k, nominate 5 friends and donate £5 to NHS Charities Together. It has been an enormous success raising over £5 million to help support our wonderful NHS staff and patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Over 1 million members of the public have taken part as well
as public figures such as Princess Eugenie, Olympians Jessica Ennis-Hill and
Sir Mo Farah, and footballer John Terry who all joined in to run and raise
money for our amazing NHS staff.
Nottingham’s Ian Alcorn started the The Great British Campout campaign in April 2020 which encourages families to camp out in their homes and gardens and donate to NHS Charities Together. To date his campaign has raised over a staggering £170,000 for our NHS.
In response to receiving his award, Ian said: “Lockdown has been testing for us all, so to help people cope by camping in their gardens or camper vans, as well as helping their mental health, means the world to me. The pandemic has isolated so many of us, so knowing that I have made a difference and helped raise vital funds for the NHS Charities Together along the way is awesome.”
Sir Captain Tom Moore, WWII veteran, is a true inspiration who has raised over an astonishing £30 million for NHS Charities Together. His goal was to complete 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday which quickly evolved into an international phenomenon which has united the nation.
Sir Captain Tom received his Points of Light award to celebrate his 100th birthday and the incredible amount he has raised for NHS Charities Together. He has since been honoured with a knighthood and appointed an honorary Colonel for his achievements. We cannot thank Captain Tom and all his supporters enough for this truly extraordinary fundraising which will make a monumental difference to NHS staff, patients and volunteers across the UK.
Frank Mills is a six-year-old boy from Bristol who has to date raised an amazing £297,753 for NHS Charities Together. He was encouraged to begin a sponsored walk to raise money for the NHS after being inspired by Sir Captain Tom’s outstanding fundraising feat.
In response to the announcement of Frank’s award his family said: “What started as a very simple, spur of the moment response to seeing Captain Tom Moore do his fundraising walk, with the hope of raising £99, has become an incredible amount of money raised for an excellent charity by people very generously responding to Frank’s effort. As a family we’ve been utterly overwhelmed not only by the amount of money given but by the lovely messages of support and encouragement left on his just giving page. I feel thanks really should go to all those who made it happen!”
