They've dedicated their lives to helping their feline friends.
Jim Hudson, 82, and his wife Maureen, 80, spend 40 hours a week collecting donations and rescuing abandoned cats.
Working out of their Cats Protection charity shop in Wallsend, they've helped raise more than £700,000 for the charity.
The cash goes to help cats, kittens and their owners throughout the North East.
The couple's passion to protect their feline friends came after they spotted a stray cat in the street.
Maureen said: “How can you walk past a cat with six babies and not do anything?
“We looked everywhere for help and came across Cats Protection.
"From then on we found ourselves getting involved and doing what we can to help out."
Cats Protection North Tyneside work within their local community to re-home cats, rehabilitate strays and assist with neutering and educate the public in cat affairs.
Jim said: “Everything we do is for the sake of the cats.
“We love every minute of it, it has became part of our lives now.
"We put all the work in like we are working a normal working week."
In 1997, the charity decided to rent a shop in Wallsend and generate additional income.
The following year they found a premises, where they have been operating out of for the last 21 years.
Earlier this month, Jim was crowned ‘Charity Shop Volunteer of the Year’ at the 2019 Charity Retail Awards held in Nottingham.
The awards, organised by the sector’s membership body, the Charity Retail Association, celebrate the best in charity retail.
In 1997, the decision was made to rent a shop in Wallsend to give additional income but it was in April 1998 that they finally settled into the shop which has been in operation for 21 years.
Last Tuesday, charity shop volunteer, Jim Hudson, took home the title of ‘Charity Shop Volunteer of the Year’ at the 2019 Charity Retail Awards held in Nottingham.
The awards, were organised by the sector’s membership body, the Charity Retail Association, celebrate the best in charity retail.
The judges were wowed by Jim’s commitment to the animal welfare charity’s shop located in Wallsend.
“We really dedicate the award to our team of volunteers both in the shop and those on cat care work who are dedicated to the work of Cats Protection” he said.
Charity retail association chief executive, Robin Osterley, said: “It was a great pleasure to see our sector come together again in Nottingham for our annual awards night.
“This year, we received an incredibly strong list of nominations, showcasing the depth of talent, industry and innovation of our members.
“Our awards give us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the inspirational work that staff and volunteers do across the United Kingdom, and the winners should be rightly proud of their achievements.”
If would like to raise an issue in your local community please get in touch at Rachael.nichol@reachplc.com or call 0191 201 6145.
