Wellington charity founder Naomi Thomas has been honoured with a fundraising award. She was named as ‘West Country Fundraiser of the Year’ in the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards. She will now go forward to the final of ‘Fundraiser of the Year’, one of the categories of the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain awards.
Hosted by Carol Vorderman, the awards take place in London’s Grosvenor House on 31st October before a star-studded audience. The event is televised on ITV on 1 November. Prince Charles is Guest of Honour and will present the Prince’s Trust Award to mark its 40th anniversary.
Naomi Thomas founded the Wedding Wishing Well in 2012. The charity aims to organise and find funding for weddings where either the bride or groom has a terminal illness. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 at a time when she and her partner Graham were hoping to marry but Naomi’s illness meant they could not afford a wedding. When a friend offered to plan theirs for them and find suppliers who would work for free their wedding could go ahead. This experience inspired her to set up a charity to help others in her position.
Mrs Thomas said: “I am thrilled and in total shock that I’ve won this amazing award. I’m really looking forward to going to London on October 31 for the final.”
The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, celebrate people young and old whose efforts and courage make a difference to others’ lives.