A YORK man who has devoted almost 20 years to charity work has been hailed as a "local hero" by charities he has helped.

Derrick Lund, 72, has raised an estimated £100,000 for various local charities over the years, going out in all weathers to collect money.

His achievement is perhaps all the more remarkable because for the past 12 years severe arthritis has confined him to a wheelchair, while two operations to a blood clot on his brain in 1959 left him with tunnel vision.

Last Saturday, Derrick took only four hours to raise almost £300 for the York Lions Club.

Former Lions president Peter Jesse said: "Derrick is truly something of a local hero. He works tirelessly for all sorts of charities in York and he's raised an amazing amount of money."

But Derrick is not big-headed about his success, despite having raised a massive £5,780 in one year (1999) for the now-defunct York & District Cerebral Palsy Society.

He said: "I suppose it's just in my nature to help other people. And it gives me something to do instead of just sitting around the flat feeling sorry for myself. I'm a person who doesn't give in."

In fact, Derrick managed to raise more than £15,000 in three years for the cerebral palsy charity - a cause especially close to his heart as his wife, Gertrude, is a life-long cerebral palsy sufferer.

Such is Derrick's fame as a first-class fundraiser that, in 2003, Nestl awarded him a Hero Award for his achievements.

His best haul in a single day was just under £650, collected for the Salvation Army at Tesco in Askham Bar. Other charities to benefit from his work are Mencap, SNAPPY, the York Blind & Partially Sighted Society and Hospital & Community Disabled Support.

On Saturday, Derrick's services were secured by Shopmobility York, collecting money in St Mary's Square.

The charity's chairwoman, former Lord Mayor Shn Braund, said: "Derrick Lund is a York treasure. We've just counted our collection takings for this year and Derrick alone is responsible for two-thirds, or £1,600, of that total. He's just ace, and he never stops working."

Derrick has no plans to stop, either. "While I still can, I intend to raise as much money as possible. It's what I enjoy best," he said.

Updated: 08:31 Monday, November 01, 2004