Your medal's in the post!
By Jayne Warren - 02/04/2008
Did you know that 4,500 Royal Mail people are trained first aiders or first responders equipped with defibrillators? Or that postmen and women raised over £500,000 last year for charity?
As part of their '1st Class People' Awards, the Royal Mail was contacted by thousands of customers who nominated their postman or woman as an ‘unsung hero’ in these popular annual awards. This year some remarkable people have been named as winners.
The top accolade of “Postman of the Year” award was won by fundraising 'marathon man' Simon Illingworth, who received his award and £3000 for a holiday from TV presenter Lorraine Kelly as part of a ceremony where awards were presented to 26 regional winners from all over the UK.
Simon was diagnosed with testicular cancer and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2003. Since then he has run more than 20 marathons to raise awareness of the disease, and totalled £7,000 for charity.
Simon, who takes his inspiration from the late Jane Tomlinson and cyclist Lance Armstrong, said: “I want something good to come out of something bad and am doing all I can to raise awareness of testicular cancer.” This year he aims complete a “marathon of marathons” in aid of Cancer Research and he has already completed six of the 26 races – including a marathon in Weymouth the Sunday before yesterday’s awards ceremony. His ambition is to have run 100 by the age of 50.
Amongst the nominations were twenty-two examples of people being saved by a postman or woman – and emergency services have said that nineteen of those people would not be alive today without someone from Royal Mail going to their aid.
Derek Neave from Fleetwood and Ryan Davenport from Cardiff East were named joint winners of Royal Mail’s National Bravery Award - and both had gone to the aid of young mums. When Terri Hine ran into the street crying for help Derek went to investigate and found several adults standing round a lifeless 13-month-old baby on the hall floor.
Derek, who is also a retained fire-fighter and trained in first aid, knew exactly what to do, threw down his bag and immediately began chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation; after a minute and a half Derek brought the child back to life, and kept her alive until an ambulance arrived.
Meanwhile in Wales, Ryan made a very special delivery when mother of three Melanie Newman opened the door to announce that her fourth child was arriving early - and fast. With the help of a neighbour and with advice on his mobile phone from emergency services, Ryan helped deliver baby Sophie in the hallway of her new home.
The regional winners of the bravery, community, and fundraising awards each received £500 and a framed certificate. The national winners received £1000 each and a glass trophy.