A worthy acknowledgement.
Manchester United player Marcus Rashford has been awarded with a Pride of Britain award following his outstanding work to help fight food poverty within the UK.
Receiving the special recognition award, Rashford said he was ‘extremely humbled’ to have been given the honour, with the 22-year-old forward being acknowledged alongside a number of other pandemic heroes, including double amputee schoolboy Tony Hudgell, who raised £1.2m for a children’s hospital this summer.
Rashford, from Wythenshawe, has made headlines frequently throughout the pandemic, forcing the government to make a historic U-turn earlier this year and extend school meals throughout the summer holidays for the students less privileged. Now, Rashford’s campaign continues, with supporters currently putting immense pressure on the Tories after they rejected calls to continue feeding children throughout the October half term.
Speaking of the award, Rashford said: “I attended Pride of Britain last year so I was able to see firsthand just how deserving the recipients of the awards are,
“I am extremely humbled but I’d like to think that I am receiving this award on behalf of all of the incredible people who have selflessly stepped up to support their communities during this pandemic.
“I have met many of them and I am no more deserving than them.
“Parents who have sacrificed everything to feed their children during this challenging time, people who are volunteering at the FareShare food banks day in and day out, people who are fighting to protect our most vulnerable children every minute of the day.
“It is those people who really make me proud to be British and really define us as a United Kingdom. So today, I accept this award on behalf of all of those who step up without the need for thanks and accolades. I appreciate every single one of you.”
Marcus Rashford has continued his philanthropic work this year alongside food charity FareShare, just last week volunteering at the charity’s new Manchester warehouse which has been named after Rashford’s mother, Melanie.
All those recognised with the award will be honoured in a pre-recorded ceremony this weekend on ITV, which will be screened at 9pm on Sunday night.