A London woman who has campaigned for more than 60 years for the protection and welfare of the victims of holocaust and torture and other gross human rights violations has been recognised for her pioneering work through the prestigious 2005/6 Beacon Prize.
Dr. Helen Bamber has been awarded the coveted Beacon Prize for her dedication to the care and counselling of holocaust survivors and victims of torture and is one of just 16 recipients of the 2005/6 Prize, all of whom were chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contribution through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes.
Joining the ranks of previous winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist, Zac Goldsmith who have all been recognised for their charitable work through what has become known as the 'Nobel Prize of the charity world', first coined by Chancellor Gordon Brown, Helen has worked with some 35,000 victims of torture and oppression through her charity, the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
Chair of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, Martyn Lewis notes: "The level of suffering Helen has encountered over the last 60 years defies comprehension, and yet this remarkable woman has continued to give relief and counselling to thousands of victims who have endured atrocities varying from the concentration camps of World War II to the Rwandan massacres of more recent times. Helen is a woman who has truly devoted her life to building a future for people who have had taken from them the will to live and carry on. She stands as a protector of individual dignity in the face of overwhelming degradation and de-humanisation".
Among this year's winners are Paul and Diana Lamplugh who are recognised for their work through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, created after the disappearence of their daughter in 1986, working to establish a greater awareness of personal safety whilst addressing the issues of violence and agression in society at large; John Bird, founder of The Big Issue; Vivien Duffield, philanthopist and arts patron who through the Clore Foundation has pledged more than £11 million to charitable causes and the 'Angel of Nagpur', Leah Pattison, whose life has been devoted to working with lepers in central India.
The Prize Ceremony will take place in November 2006 when the winners will be inaugurated as Beacon Fellows, a community of Beacon Prize winners who together, champion charitable causes across the globe and nurture a wider culture of giving in the UK. The ceremony will also see the overall Beacon Prize winner announced, receiving £30,000 to donate the charitable cause of their choice.
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For further information on the Beacon Prize, winners' biographies and photos of the 2005/6 award recipients or on The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust contact Victoria Walsh on 020 7861 8568 or email vwalsh@bell-pottinger.co.uk or Fintan Nicholls on 0207 203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk
