A man from Silsden who managed a feat of endurance was one of the inaugural winners of the Craven Community Champions Awards.

Sam Boatwright, 30, who ran 2,500 miles in 50 days, picked up the prize for achievement in Craven.

Mr Boatwright, known as the ‘Epic Runner’, was given the award in recognition of his hugely successful but gruelling charity exploit.

In April this year he set out to run 50 miles a day for 50 days around the coast of the UK to raise money for injured British soldiers and their families. His arduous journey raised more than £16,000 for the charity Help for Heroes.

His name was among those announced at a ceremony attended by 200 people at Coniston Hall Hotel.

Mr Boatwright, who has recently moved to Skipton, said: “The awards were a chance to celebrate some truly amazing people from the area. It was great to be among those who won, and I was honoured to present the sports award to Ben Holderness.”

The evening, which was backed by the main sponsors, Craven Community Safety Partnership and Cirteq, highlighted the achievements of both individuals and community groups across Craven.

The awards were launched earlier this year by Craven District Council, Keighley News sister paper the Craven Herald & Pioneer and the Rotary clubs of Skipton and Skipton & Craven.

And Sam has also been given his own Hero’s Award by Help for Heroes.

He travelled to the charity’s Tedworth House Recovery Centre in Wiltshire, where he met other winners and those being helped by the centre.

Sam’s money will go towards the centre’s new gym, fitted out with specialist equipment. He is now busy training for his next challenge – a 2,800-mile bike ride along Route 66 in America, starting in Chicago and finishing in Los Angeles.

“There are ten of us doing it and we hope to do it in seven days, which would break the previous record,” he said. The ride is due to take place in October next year and the team is hoping to raise £100,000 for Help for Heroes. For more information, visit the Facebook page, Route66CycleChallenge.