A man who raised almost £70,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association has been named in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his fundraising efforts.
Richard Pollins walked 40km around London on artificial legs, and has been awarded with a British Empire Medal.
The 2020 Birthday Honours List list is dominated by the work of ordinary people doing extraordinary things – and Richard certainly fits that criteria.
To mark his 40th birthday, Richard took on the incredible fundraising feat, which saw him visiting landmarks in the capital.
Richard’s mum is living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) – a group of diseases that affect the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Photo: MND Association
The condition causes muscle weakness and stiffness, eventually leaving people unable to move, talk, swallow and breathe.
MND affects around 5,000 people in the UK and there is currently no cure.
Richard, who was born without legs, said: “There were fears I’d never be able to walk. There are many reasons why, over the last 40 years I have been able to go from proving those fears unfounded to now taking on this challenge. Most of those reasons are down to my mum. She made everything happen and the impossible possible.”
Richard was joined on various stages of his walk by friends, family and representatives of the MND Association – and his mum was on hand to welcome him across the finish line.
Princess Anne is the Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (Photo: MND Association)
He will be presented with his British Empire Medal at an Investiture in the future.
The Princess Royal has been Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association since 2008.
Her Royal Highness is an active supporter of the charity, having attended 24 events in support of their work over the years.
