Volunteer Brian honoured by Prime Minister

Prime Minister Theresa May has honoured Brian Burnie with a Points of Light award, recognising outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community.

The 74-year-old, who has Parkinson’s, sold Doxford Hall to set up Gosforth-based Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care.

The charity, offering a free ambulance service, has a volunteer force of 350 drivers and a fleet of 25 ambulances. The service carries out 30,000 journeys a year.

Brian is currently tackling a two year 7,000-mile trek around the coasts of Britain and Ireland to promote the concept of free transport for people undergoing cancer treatment.

Mrs May said that Brian and his team are offering much-needed ‘comfort and companionship’. Brian said he was honoured to receive the award.