Scroll down for photos.
Margaret Wadsworth from Carlisle has won a regional award for selling £1m of poppies for the Royal British Legion.
Margaret was named Fundraiser of the Year by ITV Border earlier today (6 Oct. 2018), and will now go forward to the national finals of the Pride of Britain in London later this month.
Margaret, 73, along with husband Colin, was surprised by her colleagues from the Carlisle and Stanwix branch of the Royal British Legion at a ceremony held today at the city’s Museum of Military Life, as Border TV reporter Fiona Marley Paterson handed over the trophy.
Margaret said: “It means a tremendous amount especially having seen the other nominees for this award, they are amazing, so I’m truly thankful.
“I’m a bit shell-shocked right now, but I’ll look forward to representing the county to the best of my ability at the national awards.”
Margaret added: “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 be standing here today, they really have taken the Royal British Legion to their hearts up here.”
Margaret was nominated 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. She thought she was here to collect a painting, so it must have been a big shock to her!”
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.
