Brighouse man Luke Gaunt overcomes brain tumour to win award

Jul 9 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Brighouse man overcomes brain tumour to win award

YOUNG Luke Gaunt was struck down with a brain tumour which ended his dream of joining the police.

But the Brighouse man fought back from the setback and has just been honoured for his charity work.

Luke, 25, was last week named Volunteer of the Year by the mental health charity Mind.

And on Monday he finished runner-up in the Young Volunteer of the Year category at the National Association of Charity Shops’ annual awards.

Luke was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago while studying to join the police force.

A month after he started treatment his eyesight deteriorated leaving him partially sighted.

Luke, who was unable to work or study because of his illness, decided to start volunteering for Mind.

For the last two years he has worked at the charity’s shop on Commercial Street in Brighouse. Luke uses a magnifying glass to help him sort through donations.

He and six other volunteers at the shop sort up to 160 bags of contributions every week.