Beaconsfield charity fundraiser Michael Wood, who has spent nearly forty years alleviating the suffering of the poorest people in a more than 85 countries, was today named the winner of the prestigious Beacon Special Prize.

Michael has been recognised by Beacon as an outstanding example of charitable giving. He has allocated a major proportion of his personal assets to charitable causes and in 1991, he set up ROPE (Relief for Oppressed People Everywhere), which has worked extensively with the poor and marginalised throughout the world. Although now nearly 80 years old, Michael remains active as the President of ROPE and a committed fundraiser.

Wood is one of just 16 recipients of the 2005/6 Beacon Prize, who were chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contribution through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes and all of whom join the ranks of previous winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist, Zac Goldsmith who have each 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.

Chair of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, Martyn Lewis notes: “It is fitting that the award for Beacon Special Prize goes to such a remarkable man as Michael: his enormous generosity towards those less fortunate makes this Award thoroughly deserved.”

Michael responded: “I am delighted to have won this Prize for a project about which I care so much, and which I have worked so hard to develop. I hope that the Prize will help ROPE to continue its wonderful work for a long time to come.”

Also named as Beacon winners for 2005/6 are Paul and Diana Lamplugh who are recognised for their work through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, created after the disappearance of their daughter in 1986, working to establish a greater awareness of personal safety whilst addressing the issues of violence and aggression in society at large; homelessness campaigner John Bird, the founder of The Big Issue and Leah Pattison, the ‘Angel of Nagpur’ whose life has been devoted to working with lepers in central India

The Prize Ceremony will take place in November 2006 where 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 to 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 020 7203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk