An inspirational 20-year-old from Dorset has celebrated a big win at a major awards show.
Joshua Denning from Lyme Regis attended the ITV Pride of Britain Awards with his mum Annette, after being announced the winner of ITV Westcountry's fundraiser of the year.
He will now appear on TV screens across the country when the award show airs, tomorrow, Thursday, October 24 on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm.
Ever since he was a child, Joshua has been out and about with his collection bucket raising money for many important charities including the RNLI, Marie Curie, Lyme Regis Carnival, the Poppy Appeal and many more.
In the past five years, he has raised a total of £50,000 for local causes.
Although Joshua may not have won the main award of the evening, the pair were over the moon to be there, and the 20-year-old even asked if he could go again next year.
READ MORE: Joshua Denning to appear on ITV Pride of Britain Awards show
He also has no plans to stop his mega fundraising mission and already has plenty lined up including collecting donations at the Lyme Regis firework display, selling poppies around the town for Remembrance Day, as well as the Duck Race and the Lyme Lunge.
READ MORE: Dorset's Joshua Denning wins Pride of Britain Award
READ MORE: Joshua Denning given Freedom of the Town of Lyme Regis
The Lyme Lunge will be a particularly poignant event as it actually falls on Joshua’s 21st birthday – and to celebrate, Joshua and Annette will be joined by his brother Jacob, as well as family friend Kelly as they take part to raise ‘as much money as they can for the Rotary Club.’
Speaking of the awards, Annette said: “It was a very good night. It’s all a bit surreal really. We met some amazing people with amazing stories.”
She explained that they were picked up from their hotel and taken to the red carpet where they were photographed, adding: “It’s all gone by so fast.”
The mother and son also met a variety of stars at the event and Joshua revealed that he was most excited about meeting Anne Hegerty from the Chase, as well as Ben Shepherd, whilst Annette particularly enjoyed meeting James Corden and Ashley Banjo.
Annette added: “All of the actors and celebrities that we met commented on Joshua’s Only Fools and Horses tie.”
She explained that her son loves Only Fools and Horses and back in August, he even met David Jason (Del Boy).
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