A SINGER who raised thousands of pounds for charity has been nominated for a Community Pride award.

"Big Ian" Donaghy hosted A Night to Remember last month at York's Grand Opera House alongside a range of musicians and an acoustic house band.

He is no stranger to events like this, with the selfless artist regularly organising shows and performing in them along with his band, Huge.

The dad-of-two's most recent event raised £11,316 for the Alzheimer's Society.

This is the second year running Mr Donaghy has orchestrated the show, with the proceeds from the tickets helping those living with the degenerative disease in York.

The fundraising has particularly been of help to projects such as the Harmony Dementia Cafe which is held monthly at St Aelred’s Community Centre, in which two generations have merged together with student volunteers to run the cafe.

Christine Ramsay, 64, from Park Lane, in Holgate, York, has witnessed the hard work and dedication of Big Ian and nominated him for the Charity Fundraiser of the Year award.

She said: "He is a popular man and does such a lot for charity with his band.

"He raised nearly £12,000 in one night and I can't believe he hasn't been nominated before.

"Ian raises money for a lot of different charities. and he's done it for so long.

"The thing is, he seems to enjoy doing it but never really says anything about it until you read that he has raised thousands."

Last year’s winner Phil Wiggins received his award for running, cycling, and swimming 4,000 miles before he turned 41 - raising £7,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society in the process.

Community Pride is run by The Press and City of York Council, and the principal sponsor is Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area.

You can make a nomination at yorkpress.co.uk/pride.

Around three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.