REMARKABLE Rebecca Andrews is an inspiration.Rebecca, who has Down's Syndrome, a severe heart condition, diabetes and is registered blind, scooped a young adult's award for a decade of fundraising in Sproughton.

REMARKABLE Rebecca Andrews is an inspiration.

Rebecca, who has Down's Syndrome, a severe heart condition, diabetes and is registered blind, scooped a young adult's award for a decade of fundraising in Sproughton.

The 19-year-old was among the unsung heroes honoured at a special award ceremony in Suffolk.

Once a year, for the past ten years, she has delivered and collected Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) envelopes from houses in the street where she lives.

There are not many houses, but it can take Rebecca several days to complete the task.

She was one of more than two dozen people in Babergh District to receive a Community Achievement Award at last night's ceremony at Stoke by Nayland Golf Club.

Her mother, Veronica Andrews, of Nine Acres, who accompanies Rebecca on the round said: "She enjoys it and loves meeting everybody and gets invited in for a cup of tea."

Delighted Rebecca, who is studying full time at Suffolk College, said: "I am very proud."

It is not the first time she has been honoured.

When Rebecca was 16 she was given a Baden Powell Trefoil Award, the highest honour a guide can receive.

She collected almost every badge available and among the activities she tackled to win her badges was abseiling.

The Community Achievement Awards, now in its 11th year, gives Babergh and the nominating parish and town councils the chance to congratulate deserving people in the community.

BBC Radio Suffolk's Mark Murphy led the ceremony. The awards were presented by Babergh District Council chairwoman, Sue Carpendale and Robert Audley, managing director of Prolog, who sponsored the event for the second year running.

Mrs Carpendale said: "Babergh is very fortunate in having so many residents who give up their precious spare time to make life better for others in their local community."

Winners ranged from Whatfield's milkman Chris Barber, who keeps an eye on anyone living alone to Sproughton's Elizabeth Bennett who spearheaded a group of trustees and volunteers to turn a 4.7 acre riverside meadow into a village green.

The full list of winners is as follows: Under 18 Years:

Heidi Stubbings, Sudbury, 16; Helen Wilson, Elmsett, 16; Rebecca Wood, Sudbury, 15 and Rebecca Andrews.

Over 18 years:

Liz Elmer, Sudbury; Jenny Cox, Hintlesham; Chris Barber, Whatfield; Hazel King, Elmsett; Shirley Morris, Sudbury; Edna Allen, Great Waldringfield; Jo Brown, Glemsford; Granville Bendall, Semer; Mary Squirrell, Whatfield; Evelyn Leach, Layham; Clive Pearsons, Washbrook; Kenneth and Peggy Beck, Sudbury; Bernard Mills, Long Melford; father and son team Andrew and Malcolm Macbeth, Polstead; Doreen Croxton, Monks Eleigh; Richard Crisp, Melvin Oxford and Alan Wignall from Hadleigh; Elizabeth Bennett, Sproughton, Alfred Arkley, Shotley; Natalie Blyth, Kersey and husband and wife team Lin Berwick and Ralph Boyce from Sudbury.