Former chef 'humbled' to be BBC award winner
BBCA former Michelin-starred chef who has raised more than £170,000 for three charities said he was "overwhelmed" and "humbled" to be recognised at the BBC Radio Stoke Make A Difference Awards this year.
Matt Davies was among eight winners on the night, and topped the fundraising category.
"I don't think it's really settled in," he said.
An accident at work seven years ago left him fighting for his life and resulted in part of his left arm being amputated, and he has undergone more than 100 operations since.
"I think because I've suffered so much trauma, and continue to suffer so much trauma, it was [about] trying to give something back," he said.
He added his fundraising had started as a "low-key thing" in between his hospital visits, but had then gained momentum.
"It just shows absolutely the friendship and comradeship of the hospitality industry, of my amazing friends, and chefs and colleagues who have come together and helped me."
Together they have organised fundraising dinners and other events, which Davies said would help make a big difference to lots of people.
"As long as I can physically do it in between my own treatments, then I will carry on and I'm so proud to do so," he said.
Dave Taylor, who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2020, was this year's winner in the active category.
His illness left him paralysed from the neck down, and he was told he would never walk again - but walked out of hospital six months later.
Intensive physiotherapy in a hydro pool helped Taylor recover and inspired him to set up Water Warriors - an exercise group for people struggling with mobility.
The group now runs four classes at Stafford Leisure Centre and has more than 100 members.
"If they can't get physio we will show them in the water how to get the muscles to work," he said.
The group also socialises afterwards with coffee and cake, and have a chance to talk to other people who are in a similar situation.
"I never expected this to get this big, and it's getting bigger - we've now got four classes, we need a bigger pool, we need another couple of pools!"
Sprinter-turned-bobsledder Ashleigh Nelson judged the category, and admitted it had been incredibly difficult to choose a winner.
"Each nominee deserves, for what they do, working in the community and keeping everybody active, they deserve a medal," she said.
Nelson added Taylor's story had really "resonated" with her.
"Somebody that's gone through something and is now helping other people, with the same health conditions and things like that, come out the other side."
Overall there were 32 finalists across eight categories, shortlisted from more than 500 entries.
The ceremony was held at the Bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday, hosted by BBC Radio Stoke presenters Jodie Looker and Lee Blakeman.
Athletes Bryony Page, Jazmin Sawyers and Ashleigh Nelson helped judge the awards as well as joining the audience on the night.
Other members of this year's judging panel included TV stars Anthea Turner, Keith Brymer Jones and Nick Hancock, as well as playwright Deb McAndrew and boxer Nathan Heaney.
The full list of winners is as follows:
- Volunteer Award: Jamie Palmer
- Active Award: Dave Taylor
- Animal Award: Dawn Johnson
- Young Hero Award: Freddie-Jack Brown
- Fundraiser Award: Matt Davies
- Community Group Award: Childhood Cancer Parent Alliance Stars Volunteers
- Environmental Award: Rising Brook Ground Force
- Great Neighbour Award: Graham Harrison
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