Streetsport volunteer nominated at BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Dave Thompson, 54, regularly volunteers at Streetsport, the flagship programme of children's charity Denis Law Legacy Trust which is ran in partnership with Robert Gordon University.

He's also a volunteer for Befriend a Child with both organisations delighted to support his nomination. In addition to his selfless charity work, Dave works full-time as Director of UK Sales at Dyce-based Remote Medical International.

Among many achievements, Dave has volunteered over 300 hours at Streetsport sessions; has volunteered with Befriend a Child since April 2021; tackled the 50-mile Assynt Traverse, a mammoth 12-peak ultra-marathon, to raise over £1,000 for Streetsport; in 2019 he raised money for Barnardo's by running a 64-mile route in under 24 hours; he assisted in running a primary school pre-school running club with Sport Aberdeen; and he volunteered at youth tennis training sessions for young people with Judy Murray at Inchgarth Community Centre.

In Torry, where he volunteers each week at Cruyff Court Neale Cooper, there has been a 50% drop in anti-social behaviour and his reliable presence provides a consistent role model for the young participants. The money he raised completing the 50-mile Assynt Traverse was also invested in to the organisation's youth forum, Granite City Speaks, which aims to give the young people of Aberdeen a louder voice.

On his shortlisting, Dave said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be nominated for Sports Personality of the Year: Unsung Hero. It’s amazing.

“I’m a big fan of the awards. I watch it every year and I have been to see it live in Aberdeen and Glasgow so when I got the call that I had been shortlisted I could not believe it.

“Personally, it is great to be nominated but I enjoy what I do regardless of whether I get an award or not. I feel a winner doing what I’m doing anyway.”

Mark Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Denis Law Legacy Trust, said: “Dave is always volunteering at Cruyff Court Neale Cooper on a Wednesday night, come rain or shine.

“He provides a consistent and positive role model for the young people there and we are over the moon he has been shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Unsung Hero, it is so well deserved.

“On top of his many hours volunteering, he is positively obsessed with taking on marathons and runs for good causes. Dave goes above and beyond for the charity and is the definition of an unsung hero.”

A registered charity, Denis Law Legacy Trust operates and delivers a number of programmes that enable young people to engage in free sport and creative activities within their local communities throughout Aberdeen.

Primarily through Streetsport, its flagship programme, the Trust aims to reduce instances of youth crime and anti-social behaviour; promote health and wellbeing and encourage inclusivity through sport, physical activity and creative endeavour.

Streetsport was initially born out of a partnership between Robert Gordon University and relevant stakeholders, such as the emergency services, and has its office below RGU Sport in the university’s Garthdee campus.

The annual award ceremony will be held at MediaCityUK in Salford on Wednesday 21 December where the winners will be announced.