Lifetime Achievement Award for Andrew at the Against Breast Cancer Awards 2019
Andrew - Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award
Andy was the most nominated individual in the Against Breast Cancer Achievement Awards 2019, with the judges receiving over 20 nominations for Andy alone.
He was honoured to be chosen firstly as a finalist and then announced as the winner of the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in the 2019 awards ceremony held on the night of October 24th at The Hilton in Reading. Andy was up against strong competition with fellow contenders Professor Diana Eccles and Alison Porter, both with more years in service between them. However, it was Andy who triumphed with the judges and we were delighted that he took home the biggest gong of the night.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is a well-deserved award for Andy, who has been fundraising since the age of 14. In over 17 years, Andy who began raising money at St Birinus School in Didcot before creating Play2Give, has gone on to raise over £175,000 for good causes in Oxfordshire, through all-year round events and through the value of gifts raised at Christmas.
Andy was the most nominated individual in the Against Breast Cancer Achievement Awards 2019, with the judges receiving over 20 nominations for Andy alone.
He was honoured to be chosen firstly as a finalist and then announced as the winner of the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in the 2019 awards ceremony held on the night of October 24th at The Hilton in Reading. Andy was up against strong competition with fellow contenders Professor Diana Eccles and Alison Porter, both with more years in service between them. However, it was Andy who triumphed with the judges and we were delighted that he took home the biggest gong of the night.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is a well-deserved award for Andy, who has been fundraising since the age of 14. In over 17 years, Andy who began raising money at St Birinus School in Didcot before creating Play2Give, has gone on to raise over £175,000 for good causes in Oxfordshire, through all-year round events and through the value of gifts raised at Christmas.
"Andrew from Oxfordshire has been fundraising for over 17 years raising over £178,000 which he has given back to good causes. He lives with a brain injury but despite this he is a prolific fundraiser particularly in Didcot where he lives. He has an extraordinary positive attitude through determination drive and perseverance since a very young age despite his own adversity. His strength and courage in having never given up on his dream shows his strong resilience and commitment.
Andy began raising money in 2003 as a year 10 schoolboy at St Birinus School in Didcot. He was instrumental in the school's fundraising efforts by being a positive role model, inspiring and coordinating the fundraising activities at the school to help build the Oxford Children's Hospital, and through Andy's determination, creativity and ingenuity of fundraising ideas brought the entire school community together. Andy began his mission to repay Oxford medics who saved his life twice followed by setting up his very own fundraising organisation, Play2Give, aged 19. He doesn't show any signs of retiring in raising funds anytime soon.
From a dream to raise money to 'repay' Oxford medics and his first £1,000 raised with a non-uniform day in February 2003, has resulted in Andy now having raised and donated over £178k in over 17 years so far all of this whilst living with a significant disability. His condition affects him greatly daily including extreme fatigue and debilitating headaches.
It is Andy's pure self-drive, determination, motivation, grit and persistence to give back through his own adversity which lead to him creating his successful charity, Play2Give which he proudly founded in September 2007. Initially born from a football tournament for charity, since 2013 P2G has evolved, becoming a well-respected and much-loved fundraising organisation.
Andy's charity has really developed, organising and hosting a wide number of events and campaigns, all from his inspirational leadership and drive. He oversees a team of ever-growing volunteers to come together to create change through positive impact, many long-term for the benefit of others, from young and old and healthcare services to those less fortunate. Since devising Play2Give he has continually come up with a wide range of ideas from simple to the more diverse including Oxfordshire's own take on Britain's Got Talent this year to bring a variety show, (Didcot's Got Talent) to life, based on the hit TV show, to 'Sleigh2Give', Play2Give's festive spin-off, which collects and raises thousands of gifts at Christmas for children in hospital to those less fortunate including young carers, as well as other ways of raising money and awareness including glitzy balls.
Despite living with the brain injury and having sustained a further head injury aged 8 his 'story of repaying his gift of life back', has gained the full respect and admiration of peers and even pupils of today at local schools.
Andy never lets his disability hold him back and constantly finds the energy within to organise an abundance of events, to advocate and champion his cause, or raise money and awareness, he never rests. Andy brings out the best in people - he unites them and passionately fundraises, because for him giving back means so much. His team of volunteers has increased to 30-plus after a group of 'Superheroes' came on board to help. These specialist volunteers raise funds and awareness by organising runs and walks and a whole manner of public events.
Andy's sheer courage, triumph over adversity and his continued determination to make life better has earnt him the full respect and admiration of everyone involved and all those in Oxfordshire. Andy received a British Citizen Award at the House of Lords in 2017. Play2Give is all about 'changing, transforming and saving lives' locally and of which saw his charity undergo a rebrand in 2018 to keep the its momentum going. His unstinting persuasive and dogged determination has made some significant long-lasting impacts to many people who have benefited from the fundraising that he with his team has undertaken over the past few years.
One of the most significant and proudest achievements was the single patient room that opened at the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2007 treating teenage patients. The achievement of a lifelong room for teenage patients only happened because of Andy's unrelenting and tireless enthusiasm, dedication and passion to see the project of raising £40k for the sponsored patient room through. This was achieved through bringing a whole team together and despite challenges along the way from poor health to difficulties in obtaining corporate sponsors he never gave up and constantly strived to see the accomplishment through. Now every time a teenage patient goes into the room it has been proven that each one ends up with a smile.
At Christmas last year Andy and an army of Elves visited the Children's Hospital wards to deliver the biggest amount of presents ever donated estimated to be worth around £30k distributed out amongst young patients their siblings and also young carers in South Oxfordshire and families who benefit from the support of Home-Start to ensure that a wide number received a Christmas present they may not otherwise have got.
Andy was also instrumental in 2016 in leading a campaign to help save Headway, the brain injury support centre he attends, from closure. Headway was one of a number of social care services which had had funding cut to their services and Andy lead a petition (which got the backing of the local newspaper and local TV news) to save Headway as a vital lifeline to adults like him with brain injuries. This was a success with hundreds of signatures online and thus helping to increase the awareness of and funds for Headway. Andy was also instrumental in raising funds to redevelop the Headway Centre in Kennington, Oxford from a drab old church fabricated building into a modern chic purpose facility in which his charity helped raise thousands of pounds towards. Now the Headway Activity and Rehabilitation Centre which stands is bright and colourful with facilities including a quiet room, a modern expanded kitchen so service users like Andy can undertake cooking to develop their cooking skills, to a games room and also a neurological Physiotherapy Gym which was unveiled in May 2017 which is the first of its kind in the voluntary sector in Oxfordshire. Andy is now determined to reach a £5k goal to sponsor a family room within the Ronald McDonald House at the John Radcliffe Hospital and now are very close to reaching this. The Ronald McDonald House is a free 'home away from home' accommodation wing for families of seriously ill children being treated. Andy has played a huge part in a million £ community campaign towards the creation of the new Ronald McDonald House, due to open in the Summer of 2020 on the John Radcliffe site, from being involved in a publicity launch to help raise the £14 million towards the facility to implementing various events such as musical (Rock and Roll) Bingo nights in the past year towards the House so that, once built even more families can stay nearer to their seriously ill child.
He has recently become an Ambassador for the British Citizen Awards on an initial 1-year term to advocate for outstanding citizens doing incredible work across the United Kingdom. Andy is exceptionally special.
The fact that he started out at the age of 14 to raise money for charity, despite his own adversity but not letting a disability get in his way to the face that someone who started out with a dream initially to make a difference and help achieve a specialist children's hospital built in Oxford by inspiring other young people and his peers around him initially is phenomenal.
The fact that Andy has carried on and seen through over 17 years of dedicated charitable work when most young people would give up but for Andy has achieved something so substantial rather than do nothing has been admirable to everyone who knows him. To have the willpower, drive and determination to keep going to keep raising money and to keep helping others let alone have entrepreneurial spirit in him to set up his own successful organisation and made a long standing impact to others is not to be ignored."
The above is one of the many bio's the judges received about Andy, nominated over 20 times, in the 2019 Against Breast Cancer Achievement Awards.
Andy began raising money in 2003 as a year 10 schoolboy at St Birinus School in Didcot. He was instrumental in the school's fundraising efforts by being a positive role model, inspiring and coordinating the fundraising activities at the school to help build the Oxford Children's Hospital, and through Andy's determination, creativity and ingenuity of fundraising ideas brought the entire school community together. Andy began his mission to repay Oxford medics who saved his life twice followed by setting up his very own fundraising organisation, Play2Give, aged 19. He doesn't show any signs of retiring in raising funds anytime soon.
From a dream to raise money to 'repay' Oxford medics and his first £1,000 raised with a non-uniform day in February 2003, has resulted in Andy now having raised and donated over £178k in over 17 years so far all of this whilst living with a significant disability. His condition affects him greatly daily including extreme fatigue and debilitating headaches.
It is Andy's pure self-drive, determination, motivation, grit and persistence to give back through his own adversity which lead to him creating his successful charity, Play2Give which he proudly founded in September 2007. Initially born from a football tournament for charity, since 2013 P2G has evolved, becoming a well-respected and much-loved fundraising organisation.
Andy's charity has really developed, organising and hosting a wide number of events and campaigns, all from his inspirational leadership and drive. He oversees a team of ever-growing volunteers to come together to create change through positive impact, many long-term for the benefit of others, from young and old and healthcare services to those less fortunate. Since devising Play2Give he has continually come up with a wide range of ideas from simple to the more diverse including Oxfordshire's own take on Britain's Got Talent this year to bring a variety show, (Didcot's Got Talent) to life, based on the hit TV show, to 'Sleigh2Give', Play2Give's festive spin-off, which collects and raises thousands of gifts at Christmas for children in hospital to those less fortunate including young carers, as well as other ways of raising money and awareness including glitzy balls.
Despite living with the brain injury and having sustained a further head injury aged 8 his 'story of repaying his gift of life back', has gained the full respect and admiration of peers and even pupils of today at local schools.
Andy never lets his disability hold him back and constantly finds the energy within to organise an abundance of events, to advocate and champion his cause, or raise money and awareness, he never rests. Andy brings out the best in people - he unites them and passionately fundraises, because for him giving back means so much. His team of volunteers has increased to 30-plus after a group of 'Superheroes' came on board to help. These specialist volunteers raise funds and awareness by organising runs and walks and a whole manner of public events.
Andy's sheer courage, triumph over adversity and his continued determination to make life better has earnt him the full respect and admiration of everyone involved and all those in Oxfordshire. Andy received a British Citizen Award at the House of Lords in 2017. Play2Give is all about 'changing, transforming and saving lives' locally and of which saw his charity undergo a rebrand in 2018 to keep the its momentum going. His unstinting persuasive and dogged determination has made some significant long-lasting impacts to many people who have benefited from the fundraising that he with his team has undertaken over the past few years.
One of the most significant and proudest achievements was the single patient room that opened at the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2007 treating teenage patients. The achievement of a lifelong room for teenage patients only happened because of Andy's unrelenting and tireless enthusiasm, dedication and passion to see the project of raising £40k for the sponsored patient room through. This was achieved through bringing a whole team together and despite challenges along the way from poor health to difficulties in obtaining corporate sponsors he never gave up and constantly strived to see the accomplishment through. Now every time a teenage patient goes into the room it has been proven that each one ends up with a smile.
At Christmas last year Andy and an army of Elves visited the Children's Hospital wards to deliver the biggest amount of presents ever donated estimated to be worth around £30k distributed out amongst young patients their siblings and also young carers in South Oxfordshire and families who benefit from the support of Home-Start to ensure that a wide number received a Christmas present they may not otherwise have got.
Andy was also instrumental in 2016 in leading a campaign to help save Headway, the brain injury support centre he attends, from closure. Headway was one of a number of social care services which had had funding cut to their services and Andy lead a petition (which got the backing of the local newspaper and local TV news) to save Headway as a vital lifeline to adults like him with brain injuries. This was a success with hundreds of signatures online and thus helping to increase the awareness of and funds for Headway. Andy was also instrumental in raising funds to redevelop the Headway Centre in Kennington, Oxford from a drab old church fabricated building into a modern chic purpose facility in which his charity helped raise thousands of pounds towards. Now the Headway Activity and Rehabilitation Centre which stands is bright and colourful with facilities including a quiet room, a modern expanded kitchen so service users like Andy can undertake cooking to develop their cooking skills, to a games room and also a neurological Physiotherapy Gym which was unveiled in May 2017 which is the first of its kind in the voluntary sector in Oxfordshire. Andy is now determined to reach a £5k goal to sponsor a family room within the Ronald McDonald House at the John Radcliffe Hospital and now are very close to reaching this. The Ronald McDonald House is a free 'home away from home' accommodation wing for families of seriously ill children being treated. Andy has played a huge part in a million £ community campaign towards the creation of the new Ronald McDonald House, due to open in the Summer of 2020 on the John Radcliffe site, from being involved in a publicity launch to help raise the £14 million towards the facility to implementing various events such as musical (Rock and Roll) Bingo nights in the past year towards the House so that, once built even more families can stay nearer to their seriously ill child.
He has recently become an Ambassador for the British Citizen Awards on an initial 1-year term to advocate for outstanding citizens doing incredible work across the United Kingdom. Andy is exceptionally special.
The fact that he started out at the age of 14 to raise money for charity, despite his own adversity but not letting a disability get in his way to the face that someone who started out with a dream initially to make a difference and help achieve a specialist children's hospital built in Oxford by inspiring other young people and his peers around him initially is phenomenal.
The fact that Andy has carried on and seen through over 17 years of dedicated charitable work when most young people would give up but for Andy has achieved something so substantial rather than do nothing has been admirable to everyone who knows him. To have the willpower, drive and determination to keep going to keep raising money and to keep helping others let alone have entrepreneurial spirit in him to set up his own successful organisation and made a long standing impact to others is not to be ignored."
The above is one of the many bio's the judges received about Andy, nominated over 20 times, in the 2019 Against Breast Cancer Achievement Awards.
All the shortlisted nominees for the ABC Achievement Awards 2019
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Oxfordshire fundraising organisation Established 2007 - Changing transforming and saving lives across Oxfordshire
Patrons: Dr Winston Ellis and David Johnston OBE MP Head Office: 3 King Walk, Didcot, Oxon OX11 7PE Email: play2give@hotmail.com | Telephone: 07939064308 |
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