Vote now to help raise £5,000 for people like Charlotte
Oxford United are backing Dr Mick Donegan, founder of the Oxfordshire technology charity SpecialEffect, to beat two other finalists in an online poll to lift the regional TalkTalk Digital Heroes Award for 2012.
U's' fans helped raise over £8,000 for both SpecialEffect and young Oxfordshire amputee Charlotte Nott earlier in the year. Captain Jake Wright is now urging people to vote online for Dr Donegan, who’s pledged that the winning award of £5,000 will be used in its entirety to help more people like Charlotte.
"I’ve seen the life changing work that SpecialEffect carry out to help local people with disabilities like Charlotte, and I’ve tried their amazing eye control technology myself. I’ve no hesitation in urging Oxford fans and people throughout to Oxfordshire to give up five seconds and vote online for Dr Mick.”
Dr Donegan’s Charlbury-based charity work with computer technologies like eye-control and brain control to help everyone from wounded servicemen to children with life-limiting conditions to enjoy a better quality of life.
“It’s an honour to be in the running,” he said, “I’m very grateful to have the support of Jake and Oxford United. I’ve never seen myself as any kind of hero, but the money would be an invaluable help for our work.”
The TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards, in conjunction with Citizens Online, is the only awards of its kind to celebrate outstanding people who are using digital technology to benefit their communities.
TalkTalk has shortlisted the three most deserving candidates from each of the UK’s twelve main regions and are opening up the final vote online to the public. The individuals with the most votes from each of the twelve regions will be honoured at a ceremony at the House of Commons judged by a panel that includes UK Digital Champion and dotcom entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox.
Ms Lane Fox said: “I love hearing about the projects digital heroes are running in communities across the UK, and I urge everyone to take inspiration from these amazing ninjas, We’re very excited to be involved with an initiative that shines a light on the extraordinary things people can achieve through digital technology.”
Voters can find out more about the awards at at www.talktalk.co.uk/digitalheroes, and vote for Mick, who’s one of the SouthEast Regional finalists, at http://bit.ly/TBXhdn.
Voting closes on Sunday 18 November.