A CHARITY is ensuring the memory an exceptional young man lives on after presenting an award in his name.

The winner of the inaugural Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award was announced at an event in Birmingham by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a nationwide charity that sends young people recovering from cancer on confidence-building sailing trips.

Luke, who lived in Burley-in-Wharfedale with his fiancée Angie Wilkinson, died peacefully at St James’ Hospital in Leeds on August 27, 2016 aged just 29. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2003.

During his illness, Luke sailed with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. He later volunteered with the charity helping on Trust trips and inspiring other young people in their recovery from cancer. At the age of 24, he was invited to became an ambassador for the Trust, a move that saw him meet the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year.

Now, in celebration of Luke’s life, the Trust has introduced the Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year award. Nominations were invited for volunteers who demonstrate all the qualities that Luke embodied; a sense of humour, enthusiasm, compassion, a huge amount of fun and someone who goes the extra mile for the Trust.

They were judged by an independent panel which included Luke’s mum Julie Gilbert, also of Burley-in-Wharfedale, his fiancée Angie, Sue Morgan MBE and Dave Hobin. The winner - Paul Gavin, 28, of Runcorn - was announced at the Trust's annual volunteer training day, which took place in Birmingham. Paul first sailed with the Trust as a young person in 2009 and has volunteered every year since 2010.

Frank Fletcher, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust said: "I can’t think of a more deserving winner of the Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award in its inaugural year. Paul shares many of the traits which shone through in Luke so clearly – he has an amazing sense of humour, a ton of bad jokes and shares Luke’s love for life. He always makes the trips such fun for both the young people and volunteers alike as well as having the ability to become a brother figure to the young people. We are so grateful for all that he does.”

Julie Gilbert, who attended the award ceremony with her husband David Gilbert, mum Agnes Whiteoak and her partner Alex McAllum, said: "I was so honoured that Luke's name lives on. It was a very emotional weekend - he would have been humbled had he still been here. All the nominations are an inspiration and I would have given them all a ten. My husband and I bought the runners up an Ellen MacArthur Trust hoodie so that everyone got something.

"These volunteers are so selfless with all that they have been through. There is a saying a man dies twice - once when his heart stops beating and twice when his name is no longer mentioned. Thanks to Frank Fletcher and the Trust Luke's memory lives on."

Also ensuring Luke's name lives on is a new memorial bench which is now in place at Tom's Pond in Otley.

Julie, who works as a nurse on the Ilkley Moor district nursing team, added: "Luke used to enjoy fishing at Tom's Pond and would often go with his friend Sam Metcalf. His best friend Nikki Waddington organised a collection to purchase a memory bench. This is now in place at Tom's Pond which is quite fitting for people to go and sit on and think of Luke."