Derrick Lund nominated for charity fundraiser of the year award (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Derrick Lund nominated for charity fundraiser of the year award
8:50am Tuesday 24th April 2012 in News
By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk
Derrick Lund with just a few of his many certificates awarded for his fundraising activities
A WELL-KNOWN charity worker who has raised more than £46,000 for York Blind & Partially Sighted Society has been nominated for a Community Pride award.
Derrick Lund, 79, of Skeldergate, York, has been nominated in the category of charity fundraiser of the year in The Press awards for his remarkable dedication to helping others.
Mr Lund, who is disabled and was diagnosed with tunnel vision himself following a brain operation, has devoted about 20 years to fundraising for other blind and partially sighted people.
Nominating Mr Lund, Sarah Gowers, of the York Blind & Partially Sighted Society, said: “Whenever we have a charity collection Derrick will collect from start until finish – we sometimes have to drag him away. He brings his pack-up and flask and he’s set for the day.
“Derrick loves collecting as he is in a wheelchair and this gets him out and about. His wife is unable to take him out regularly due to her own health. Derrick is very polite and always replies with a ‘thank you sir’ or ‘have a good day’ when someone donates. Locals always stop to talk to him and he is well known wherever we go.”
As well as fundraising for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, Mr Lund has also raised money for Arthritis Research, St Leonard’s Hospice, the Royal British Legion, the Coronary Support Group, Shop Mobility, the Alzheimer’s Society, Cerebral Palsy and Hospital And Community Disabled Support.
Mr Lund – previous winner of the charity fundraiser of the year category in 2005 – said he had started actively helping others in the 1950s when he lived in Canada and used to help drive people to church.
His wife, Gertrude, said: “He likes meeting people and it gives him something to do. He loves doing anything for people. He is a very kind person, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Community Pride Awards, which will have a York 800 theme this year, are run in partnership with City of York Council and are sponsored by Benenden Healthcare.
