A LIFTON dad who gave up his career, home, family and friends to look after his two disabled children has been hailed a 'local hero'.
John Hoare was presented with a Nationwide Award for Voluntary Endeavour at a ceremony in Exeter on Tuesday.
The award is designed to recognise 'local heroes' whose voluntary work or community activity has made a real difference to people's lives
John was nominated for the award by his wife ,Paula.
She said their two children, Laura, 16, and John, 14, were both diagnosed with a serious degenerative disease three years ago and since then have become more disabled, relying on wheelchairs for mobility.
John gave up work two years ago to help Paula care for them
When it became clear the children could no longer manage the stairs he sold the family home in Middlesex and moved away from his own family, friends and the area he had lived in all of his life to a bungalow in Devon.
Paula said: 'Their illness affects their mobility and speech and most things are difficult for them. Despite this they have a wonderful sense of humour and enjoy their lives as much as they can.
'Behind all of this is their dad. He is the person who keeps their spirits up when it would be so easy to sink down into the depths.
'He copes, endlessly it seems, with the stress and strain of caring for two disabled children and the heartbreak of seeing your children gradually deteriorate. He gives to myself and our children all he can and it seems that none of us are left in need.'
Paula added that her husband had gone from being a well-paid worker to a low-paid carer but he would do it all again because his family comes first.