Unassuming community champion Steve Hill MBE has been honoured in a top award ceremony for "making a difference".
Steve has been teaching in Oldham for 24 years and been Deputy Headteacher at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Shaw for 17 years.
He won the prestigious ‘Individual Making A Difference In The Community Award’ at the special This Is Manchester ceremony at the city’s Hilton Hotel.
He said: “I really couldn’t believe it - I was totally gobsmacked. It was a very special moment indeed. I felt very honoured to be representing Oldham at these awards.
“To be nominated and then shortlisted was very special and I wasn’t expecting anything more than that - just to go along and enjoy the evening!
"It was great to be able to share the award with the children in class the following morning. They were all very excited.
He added: “I’d like to thank everyone for their continued support and encouragement over the years. This award is about the great team of people who are part of Team Hill Charitable Trust who continually support the work of the Charity and our mission to help make a positive difference in the world.”
Steve's motto in the classroom is “work hard - play hard” which he applies across academic, sporting and outdoor adventurous activities throughout the school.
Leading by example, he sets himself personal challenges for his fundraising and continually strives to inspire the children that anything is possible.
Over the last 10 years, he has helped raise over £100,000 for a variety of charities.
His personal challenges have included climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc, completing an expedition through the Arctic wilderness with huskies, trekking 200 miles through the Sahara Desert and trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp and completing the Tenzing Hillary Mount Everest Marathon, along with UVU North Pole Marathon and 230km race through the Amazon Jungle.