Durham Dad awarded in New Year Honours
Alex Oliver will receive a British Empire Medal for services to charity and the community of Durham
A Dad from Durham says he's thrilled to be included on the New Year's Honours list - even if he did have to double check it wasn't a joke.
Alex Oliver will receive a British Empire Medal for services to charity and the community in Durham.
He's spent the last four years building the Brandon Amateur Boxing Club - a place where kids can spend their free time and stay healthy.
This has helped tackle obesity, under-age drinking and kept kids in Durham off the streets.
He has also took part in the Great North Run three times in the past four years, and - alongside other charity events - has raised money for the Trinity School and to be re-invested into the boxing club.
Speaking after been told of the honour, Alex said:
"Very humbled for the fact that someone took the time to nominate and put me forward because, at the end of the day, I'm just doing something that loads of other people do.
"There are loads of people running boxing clubs up and down the country, trying to get kids off the streets.
"It's very important because the money we raise off auctions, raffles - it goes into a pot and gives the children opportunities to go out, and do things they wouldn't be able to do without these funds."