An audience of about 150 people attended the gala Superhero event at Carlisle Racecourse where 10 people were rewarded for their efforts - many of them children.

Chris Story, editor of The Cumberland News, welcomed guests to the evening.

He said: “The evening is one of the highlights of our year as we recognise and reward the heroes in our community.”

The Sporting hero award went to David Morton,and was presented by host Jonathan Higgins, seen pictured above.

Mort has been involved in rugby for many years, firstly as secretary and fixture secretary of Cumbria Police for more than 25 years.

In 1993, he was registered blind as a consequence of a genetic and degenerative eye disease, but that hasn’t stopped Mort.

Upon leaving the police force that year, he became the fixture and match secretary at Carlisle RFC for almost 14 years, and after relinquishing that post, he has been the club honorary secretary at the club now for more than a decade.

It’s all the more remarkable because, since 2008, Mort has been using a guide dog to help him get out and about to continue with his rugby duties, with Rebel by his side last night, and once again played his role last season as Carlisle stormed to the North One West title.

The finalists in this category were footballer and Workington Reds manager Danny Grainger and Mark Davidson, Carlisle Cricket Club honorary secretary.

Speaking later, Mort said. " It took some persuading to get me there. When I heard what some of the other award winners had been through in their lives, and what they had done for others, it was really humbling"

Congratulations Mort.
Everyone associated with the club, and in the wider rugby community, feels this award is thoroughly deserved for all the hard work, often unseen, to help and promote the game of rugby both at the club and in the county.

Thanks to The Cumberland News for the Photo and the article