A PRINCETOWN man has been recognised by a national organisation for his outstanding work in raising money for charity.
Steve Parker has raised thousands of pounds for the Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC) charity by organising the annual Dartmoor Challenge, a gruelling 30-mile, two-day sponsored walk.
Steve?s efforts have been recognised by the Beacon Foundation, a new charitable initiative.
Beacon aims to raise the profile of philanthropy in the UK by awarding the Beacon Prize to individuals who are an inspiration to others in the way they give, be it through time, money or expertise.
Steve received a Highly Commended certificate after being nominated for the Beacon Prize 2003, in recognition of the 12 Dartmoor Challenges he has organised for CLIC.
Steve, who is employed as a Plymouth train driver for Virgin Crosscountry, said: ?I was dumbstruck to receive the Highly Commended certificate, I didn?t even realise that I had been nominated. I shall get it framed and hang it in my lounge!?
Emily Stoner, chief executive of Beacon, said: ?In an almost impossibly difficult process, with many hundreds of outstanding nominations, Steve?s achievements stood out as exceptional.
?We congratulate all our highly commended candidates ? reaching the final shortlist is a considerable mark of recognition for your achievement.?
Ms Stoner said Beacon had been ?overwhelmed? with nominations for the inaugural Beacon Prize.
?It has really shown us that people in the UK really do believe that charitable achievements should be celebrated just as much as achievements in other fields.?
Mike Fitzpatrick, Dartmoor Challenge Group secretary, said it was ?doubly rewarding? that a totally independent organisation like the Beacon Foundation had recognised Steve?s hard work.
Mike said Steve was currently hard at work organising the 13th Dartmoor Challenge, which will take place on April 24 and 25.
?Last year, 60 walkers raised £9,688.10 in sponsorship,? said Mike. ?Our aim this year, of course, is to exceed that sum.
?The walkers come from all walks of life and all ages. They range from a group of local scouts, university students, police officers, prison officers to retired servicemen and women and include many Virgin Crosscountry train personnel.?
The Dartmoor Challenge walks are led by two experienced moor walkers and tailed by two experienced ?sweepers?. Support buses are provided for back up and to transport walkers back to Princetown at the end of each day.
The walk on day one is from Princetown to Belstone, crossing the moor northwards. The second day?s walk takes in the southern side of the moor, from Princetown to Cantrell Gate.
Certificates are awarded to everyone completing the course, which will be distributed by Tony Beard, the ?Widecombe Wag? on the presentation night at Princetown on May 29.
Anyone interested in taking part in the Dartmoor Challenge should call Mike Fitzpatrick on 01822 890799.