Derry fundraiser wins Pride of Britain award

A Derry fundraiser has won the UK-wide Pride of Britain award for over three decades of charity fundraising.

Ivan Black (61) has done countless fundraisers in Derry and has a strong connection with the city.

Ivan, who has raised over half a million pounds for charity, said he was 'overwhelmed' when he heard he won the award.

“I was absolutely overwhelmed, shocked. I just still can't believe it so I can't. I definitely didn't expect it,” he said. “I was honoured to be nominated but definitely didn't expect to win it.”

Ivan began fundraising 33 years ago when his brother Ian died at 23 from leukaemia. He has since lost more family members to cancer.

“On his deathbed I made a promise that day to him that I would do something to keep his memory alive and I've been fundraising since then.

“I lost my sister, Francis, to breast cancer at 47. My brother Ian was 23 when he passed away and I lost my father to stomach cancer as well.

“I'll never forget the pain we went through at the time with losing Ian at the start. If I can do one thing to help one person or one family, to help them not to have to go through that pain or help one person spend a while longer with their family.”

Ivan said he's heartened by how much cancer research and treatment has come along in the last three decades.

For years Ivan spread his fundraising across various charities but for the last seven he has been solely raising for Cancer Research.

A month ago Ivan learned he had raised £500,000 for charity in his 30 years of fundraising.

“I can't believe it. I can't believe it at all. Even talking about that sort of money is mind blowing. It can't be done without the help of a hell of a lot of people over the years.”

Over the years he has climbed Ben Nevis, trekked Kenya for three weeks, worked with a local church in Romania, completed four marathons and ten half marathons among many, many other events.

“People say to me about the hard challenges I've done with me out walking in the rain 'are you wise?' but I've always said it might be raining but when someone is being treated for cancer the rain doesn't stop it.

“I've been asked about blisters. I walked the Inishowen 100 a few years back and I had blood running out of my feet and I had to crawl to the house when I was finished but my argument there was that a week later my blisters were healed and my legs were better but there are still people fighting cancer.”

He said that even though the issue is serious there is a lot of fun in fundraising.

“Every challenge we do, we could be tested mentally and we could be tested physically but they're always fun. It's important when you're fundraising that people are having a bit of craic and feeling good about helping other people.”

Ivan will now be flown to London for the awards ceremony before coming straight home and getting back to work fundraising.