Jonathan Martin, operations manager at national estate agency group Spicerhaart which is based in Colchester, has been named as the top fundraiser within the profession across the whole of the UK.

Mr Martin won the Best Individual Fundraiser of the Year title at the Agents Giving organisation’s Fundraising Champion Awards for 2017, after being nominated by colleagues.

The award recognises Mr Martin’s efforts on behalf of the Magic Moments charity, of which he has been a trustee since 2010 and chairman since 2015.

Magic Moments was founded in 1998 by Alick and Val Smith, whose son Paul is chief executive of Spicerhaart, to provide trips to Disneyland Paris for children affected by life-limiting illnesses.

Paul Smith said: “Jonathan has worked tirelessly for the Magic Moments charity over the years and every year we break new records for the amount raised and the number of people we are able to take to Disneyland Paris.

“As the chairman of the charity’s board of trustees, his infectious enthusiasm ensures that the charity goes from strength to strength, encouraging our 2,000 staff, as well as suppliers, friends and associates, to take part in a huge range of fundraising activities to support this worthwhile cause.”

Mr Martin said he felt “shocked but extremely honoured” to win the award. “I am thrilled that our fundraising efforts have been recognised, particularly the Three Peaks challenge which I led earlier this year, with 20 colleagues and friends taking in the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon), in 24 hours, raising £42,000 in the process,” he said.

“We are expecting to have a record-breaking year and hope to raise over £160,000 in total from all our different fundraising activities, which allows us to take children and their families from hospices across the UK to Disneyland Paris every year.

“This year, we have had three trips and taken a total of 322 people to see Mickey Mouse and friends, and the smiles on the faces of the children and their families are the best reward we can have. In many cases, it is their last trip they will ever take together as a family and it is an incredibly uplifting and positive experience, despite the sadness and heartache they are going through.”