Margaret Wadsworth from Carlisle has won a national ITV Pride of Britain award for selling £1m of poppies for the Royal British Legion.
Margaret was named 2018 Fundraiser of the Year at the glittering ceremony in London, to be shown on ITV at 8pm this evening.
Margaret, 73, along with husband Colin, was nominated by her colleagues from the Carlisle and Stanwix branch of the Royal British Legion.
Margaret said: “When my husband Colin came out of the forces he joined the Legion and became the volunteer Poppy Appeal Organiser for Carlisle and Stanwix, so I decided to help him out, and we’ve just worked as a team ever since. It’s amazing to think we’ve raised £1m since then.
“The generosity of the people of Carlisle is remarkable, and without them I wouldn’t have received this award, they really have taken the Royal British Legion to their hearts up here.”
Margaret was put forward for the Pride of Britain award by Branch Secretary Tony Parrini, who said: “I’m really proud, especially as our branch was only formed in 2006, but we’ve worked tirelessly for the Poppy Appeal and to reach £1m in that time has been remarkable so Margaret and Colin deserve this recognition.
“Margaret puts so much into our community, so she has earned this award.”
Judith Reay, Community Fundraising Manager for the Royal British Legion in Cumbria, said: “The Legion is the nation’s biggest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families. We rely on amazing volunteers like Margaret to allow us to deliver this vital support.”
Earlier this year, Margaret and Colin both received the highest award bestowed by Rotary International, as they were made Paul Harris Fellows for their fundraising efforts over the past eleven years.
Pride of Britain host Carol Vorderman said: “The purpose of Pride of Britain really is to highlight the people who are full of goodness and love and kindness.”
