A PRESTATYN man has been named North Wales Fundraiser of the Year by one of the country’s largest charities.

Chris Easthope received the award from the chief executive of cancer charity Marie Curie, Dr Jane Collins, at the launch of their annual Great Daffodil Appeal at the Senedd in Cardiff after just 18 months of volunteering.

Mr Easthope said: “I am so humbled, it was not expected at all. I just do it because I want to.”

The volunteer is a member of the Rhyl and Prestatyn Fundraising Group as well as a Marie Curie Ambassador and collector, which he began after the death of his wife Nicky from rectal cancer which has seen him trek Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Dartmoor for the charity.

Mr Easthope was inspired to join not just because of the care his wife received, but also the extra support offered to him throughout.

Mr Easthope added: “I had been told she would have to go into hospital, but when the Marie Curie nurses came along, they asked “why shouldn’t she die at home?”

“But I’d had to fight doctors and everything to get there. It was horrendous, but at leats she was at home. ”

“Throughout all of this, it wasn’t a case of going straight into Nicky when they arrived, they would stop and check if I was ok. It lifted my day.”

This year, Mr Easthope will trek Ben Nevis for the charity and is also taking part in a 1000 miles challenge.

Laura Ellis-Bartlett, community fundraiser for North East Wales, said: “We are delighted for Chris in receiving this award. He is a fantastic volunteer and gets involved in as much as he can to help fundraise and raise awareness about the work of Marie Curie across North Wales.

“Chris is a fantastic ambassador for Marie Curie and we can’t thank him enough for everything he does.”

The charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal encourages members of the public to support cancer research by wearing a daffodil pin throughout February and March.

Increased support is urgently needed as one in four people currently don’t receive the care and support they need at the end of their life. For more information on where to donate, or to volunteer for the Great Daffodil Appealr, visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil.