A lifetime of love: Dad, 90, honoured with award after raising more than £100,000 for the charity supporting his son
Alistair has been supported by Hft for 30 years
A father whose son has been supported by learning disability charity Hft for more than 30 years has been recognised for his lifetime of fundraising for the organisation.
Don Pilkington, 90, was presented with a lifetime achievement award for raising more than £100,000 for the charity over the last five decades.
Don first started fundraising for Hft shortly after Alistair was born in 1974.
“We had the shock of our lives when Alistair was born and had Down’s Syndrome,” said Don.
“My wife Jeanette was a nurse, but this was completely new territory for us.”
Don was a member of the local Round Table and was first introduced to Hft at a meeting when one of its founders came to speak about the charity.
“I said to Jeanette that I had met one of the charity’s founders and we should invite her for a cup of tea,” said Don.
“She came to our house and spoke to us about Alistair and what we wanted for his future.”
From that moment, Don and Jeanette began to fundraise for Hft. “Wherever an opportunity presented itself, I used it to raise money for the charity,” he said.
Alistair, who is non-verbal, went to school in Kettering before moving onto an adult training centre where he remained until he was 21 years-old.
He then moved to the charity’s Hitchin Road service in Shefford.
“We had a terrible feeling of guilt when he moved there,” said Don. “Here was our son who we had been with us for 21 years and now someone else was going to take up that caring role.”
Just 18 months after moving to Hft Shefford, Alistair lost his eyesight.
“My immediate thought was that he would have to move somewhere more suited to someone who was visually impaired,” said Don.
“But Hft made sure they put everything in place to ensure they could continue supporting Alistair.
“He was so happy there and had made friends and we didn’t want that to change.”
Don and Jeanette carried on fundraising, organising multiple events including a fun runs and golf days. Don also held fundraising dinners at his home.
When Jeanette died in 1998, Don asked for donations to Hft at her funeral. And for his 90th birthday this year, Don raised a further £3,000 asking for donations rather than presents.
Don and Alistair’s brothers, Andrew and Ian, also funded a state-of-the-art massage chair this year for the service’s new sensory hub.
Alistair, now 52, enjoys a full and busy life at Shefford. He attends a music club each Monday where he plays the tambourine and enjoys making cakes.
“Alistair has always had a huge love of music,” said Don.
“It moves me to tears seeing his sheer enthusiasm of playing the tambourine at the music club.
“Hft has given Alistair a life of enjoyment, support and great friendships,” said Don.
“He has his own fan club among the staff and his housemates at Shefford and despite the severity of his disabilities, he has a very enjoyable life thanks to the incredible care and support he receives.
“Knowing that stops me worrying about him. I love seeing him smile and so happy.”
And it’s not just Don that fundraises for Hft.
Alistair’s brother Andrew has run the London Marathon and raised £9,000 while Don’s granddaughter and friends took part in a 10k race raising further cash.
Don regularly visits his son at Shefford where they enjoy spending time together.
And he was recently among the guests of honour at the opening of the service’s new sensory hub.
The opening coincided with the service’s annual awards ceremony which celebrates the achievements of the people supported there and the work of Hft colleagues.
The awards, attended by family and friends, were attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Susan Lousada and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Professor Gurch Randhawa.
Don was presented with a long service award in recognition of his decades of fundraising for Hft by Lord-Lieutenant Lousada.
Hft Shefford Service Manager Claire Davies-Sond said: “Don’s determination and effort to always pull out all the stops and raise funds for Hft has changed many lives.
“We were delighted to present him with his lifetime achievement award to honour his 50 years of dedicated fundraising.
“He is a very special human being.”
