We are enormously proud and delighted that our companion Christian received the Unsung Hero Award in Bedford Independent’s Everyday Heroes Awards.
Christian was one of more than 50 incredible people shortlisted in the newspaper’s fourth Everyday Heroes Awards, held in partnership with The Harpur Trust, at Bedford School on Thursday evening.
Christian was one of five impressive nominees shortlisted in the Unsung Hero category and was chosen for his incredible dedication and commitment in helping homeless and vulnerable people through the Rucksack Stomps.
Formerly homeless himself, Christian set up the Rucksack Stomp in 2017 to help those in the same position he once found himself in. He is joined by a fantastic team of volunteers three evenings a week in Bedford, Wellingborough and Northampton, offering food, drink and vital supplies to homeless people.
“Proud and very humbled”
Commenting on his award, Christian said: “It was fantastic to receive the award. I am proud and very humbled by all the support I’ve received from my fellow companions, volunteers, staff and trustees over the past seven years, in keeping the ethos of Abbie Pierre’s solidarity work at the forefront of our minds, to serve those who suffer most. Thank you to you all.”
Christian was accompanied at the ceremony by our Chief Executive, Donna-Louise Cobban, who said: “The whole community is enormously proud of Christian for receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award.
“Christian is an inspiration to us all. He has not only turned his own life around from homelessness, but is giving back to others in the same position through his Rucksack Stomps. He gives compassion, support and hope to vulnerable people in and around Bedford. We couldn’t be prouder or happier for him.”
Bedford heroes who walk among us
The Bedford Independent said “thank you” to Christian and all the other Bedford heroes who walk among us for making Bedford brilliant between January and December 2023.
All of those chosen as ‘highly commended’ and winners were selected after careful deliberation by independent judges.
The newspaper said: “Whatever the outcomes of that judging process, each finalist rightly deserves to be recognized for their work to make Bedford brilliant and we couldn’t be more humbled to have shared the room with them at their award’s evening.
“Each nominee can hold their head up high and say you truly are one of those who make Bedford Borough brilliant.”
Finalists were also joined by local dignitaries including MPs Mohammad Yasin (Bedford and Kempston, Labour) and Richard Fuller (North Bedfordshire, Conservative), and the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Susan Lousada who closed the event.
Hosting the evening, Paul Hutchinson and Erica Roffe, co-managing editors of the Bedford Independent and Lucy Bardner, community programme director at The Harpur Trust, detailed why each nominee had been shortlisted.
The different award categories were: Volunteer of the Year, Excellence in Education, Raising the Profile of the Town (Individual), Raising the Profile of the Town (Team), Fundraiser of the Year (Individual), Fundraiser of the Year (Team), Young Achiever (Individual), Unsung Hero and Young Carers of the Year.
To read more about the Everyday Heroes Awards, head to Bedford Independent’s web page: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/here-they-are-the-bedford-heroes-who-walk-among-us/
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