Lockdown camping fundraiser nominated for Pride Of Britain award

The founder of a lockdown camping campaign that raised more than £200,000 for NHS staff has been nominated for a major award.

Father-of-two Ian Alcorn launched the Facebook group Great British Campout for NHS Staff in March 2020 to encourage friends to camp out in their homes and gardens and donate a ‘pitch fee’ of at least £2.

The group went viral and by summer, the Facebook page had more than 37,000 members, and raised over £170,000. Coupled with Gift Aid donations and sales of associated merchandise, it meant more than £200,000 had been raised.

Now Ian, 46, of Nottinghamshire, has been nominated for a Pride Of Britain 2020 award. He revealed on the Facebook group that he has been placed on a shortlist of four for the Midlands from thousands of public nominations.

The winner, to be announced on Friday 2 October, will represent the region in the national Pride Of Britain Awards in November.

Nominated by the public, the winners are unsung heroes from all walks of life, of all ages, and from all over the country.

Ian wrote on Facebook: “You lovely lot have been busy and have kindly nominated me for a Pride of Britain award. I’ve been shortlisted from 1000s of nominations down to four!

“Thank you… whatever the outcome I’m chuffed to bits. So proud of what we’ve achieved.”