A councillor has been given a national award for his cancer charity fundraising.

The Lymphoma Association gave former Haringey Mayor Cllr Ali Gul Ozbek a Beacons of Hope award for raising over £70,000 for its cause.

Cllr Ozbek was handed his award at a ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday November 9.

He raised £71,477 through The Mayor of Haringey’s Special Fund Appeal during his 2016/2017 tenure.

This is the most money raised for the charity by an individual.

Susan Rae, a BBC Radio 4 presenter, hosted the Birmingham ceremony.

Ms Rae read out a citation at the awards, which stated of Cllr Ozbek: ‘His family benefitted from the Lymphoma Association’s helpline and publications and he was very grateful.

“Ali felt compelled to give something back.

“From May 2016 to May 2017, he was Mayor of Haringey and through the Mayor of Haringey’s Special Fund, embarked on a highly enthusiastic fundraising campaign that raised a phenomenal £70,000 – the highest amount ever raised by an individual.

“Now his year is over, he still is keen to help the charity through his connections as a councillor, pharmacist and member of the Turkish Medical Group.

“He has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the last year and I feel his incredible generosity and enthusiasm should be rewarded.”

Cllr Ozbek supported the charity because his brother was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2015.

Jonathan Pearce, chief executive of the Lymphoma Association, said: “We were delighted to be able to present former Mayor Cllr Ali Gul Ozbek with a Beacons of Hope Award.

“We specialise in providing medical information and support to anyone affected by lymphoma, and the Beacons of Hope Awards are a chance for us to say thank you and to celebrate the achievements of people like Ali Gul Ozbek who help us to make a real difference.”

Patients founded the Lymphoma Association in 1986.

It gives specialist medical information and support to people with lymphatic cancer, their family, friends and carers.

Around 125,000 people are living with lymphoma.

Over 19,000 new cases of lymphoma are identified in the UK annually.

It is the most often diagnosed cancer in teenagers and young adults, and the fifth most common cancer diagnosed over all.

Visit www.lymphomas.org.uk for further information or telephone 0808 808 5555.