Tesco magazine's Hero Dads
Ivan Black
"He does what he feels is right. Helping others is a way of life"
When 47-year-old Ivan Black lost his brother to leukaemia 19 years ago, it made him realise how precious life is. He has since raised over £170,000 for charity. Read more...
Tim Mutum
"He's a selfless person who deserves to be recognised"
Tim Mutum, 53, was nominated by his daughter-in-law Emma, 23. She has battled illness over the past two years. Throughout this difficult time, Tim has been a constant source of care and support. Read more...
Gary Bullen
"Cancer has made me realise what's important – life is too short to be serious"
Gary Bullen, 42, from Falmouth in Cornwall was nominated by his sons, Aaron, 11, Samuel, 8, and Elliot, 6. Gary served in the Royal Marines for 22 years – which included tours in the first Gulf War and Sierra Leone. Read more...
He does what he feels is right. Helping others is a way of life
When 47-year-old Ivan Black lost his brother to leukaemia 19 years ago, it made him realise how precious life is. He has since raised over £170,000 for charity.
In 2007, Ivan travelled to Kenya on an expedition set up by Marie Curie Cancer Care to help build houses and renovate a school. Earlier this year, he spent time in Romania building wells. 'To see the conditions people were living in there,' he says, 'and how just a few hours work can change the quality of their lives, was incredibly touching.'
When he's not raising money, Ivan is a project development officer for Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland, working with troubled youngsters, prisoners and people who suffer from mental health problems and disabilities. He sets up and runs projects which help people to feel valued. As a result, many have returned to their studies to gain formal qualifications.
Ivan and his wife Iris recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. In the summer of 2007, the couple joined a scheme to help people affected by the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, and they temporarily fostered two children from Belarus, giving them a happy, healthy summer holiday.
Family pride
Iris says her husband has always been there for his children and thoroughly deserves to be called a Hero Dad, 'He probably doesn't realise how much our kids Stacey and Kane look up to him because he doesn't think about it,' says Iris. 'He does what he feels is right. Helping others is a way of life for Ivan.'
It was 21-year-old Stacey who nominated her dad, telling us just what a huge support he's been, giving her the encouragement she needed when she was struggling to finish her degree.
'I don't think of myself as a hero dad,' says Ivan. 'I just try to do as much with my life as I can. Seeing your kids grow up to be decent, well-mannered and respectful to others is enough of a reward for me. I can't ask for any more out of life than that.'
What our hero dads did at Brands Hatch
Our dads were treated to an exhilarating Race Master experience worth £180, at the famous Brands Hatch race circuit in Kent. First, the dads received tuition from a qualified instructor in a powerful BMW M3 where they learnt how to handle the car at high speeds. Then, the dads took to the wheel of a Formula 1-style racing car for the ultimate thrill ride.
For information on the various experiences available at Brands Hatch and other circuits across the country, visit www.motorsportvision.co.uk or call 0870 950 9000.
He's a selfless person who deserves to be recognised
Tim Mutum, 53, was nominated by his daughter-in-law Emma, 23. She has battled illness over the past two years. Throughout this difficult time, Tim has been a constant source of care and support.
'Tim is the best dad ever,' Emma told us. 'He's a selfless and positive person whose enthusiasm and caring nature deserves to be recognised. I think he genuinely would do anything to help someone out – not just his own family, but others as well.'
Tim has worked for his local council as a project executive for over 30 years. His job involves allotting grants to voluntary organisations in the area, helping to push forward positive local projects. He also founded the Ipswich Charity Concert Committee in 1989 and since then has promoted 41 charity concerts, attracting the cream of the brass band world to Ipswich. Through these concerts, Tim has raised over £60,000 in aid of various charities, hospices and medical research.
Raising awareness
Diagnosed with Crohn's disease 11 years ago, Tim is on the board for the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease and works tirelessly to raise awareness. 'It's just in my make-up to believe that we're all here to try to help each other,' he explains. 'Because some people are not as lucky as we are. There's always someone worse off.'
A proud father of two – Julie, 28, and Steve, 25, Tim recently became a grandfather. 'To me family is everything,' he says. 'I've brought up my children to always care about family, and especially to remember that health is the most important thing – without it you've got nothing. Life isn't a dress rehearsal. You've got to support each other through the tough times and make sure you make the most of the good ones.'
It's not just his charity work that makes him a worthy hero
Gary Bullen, 42, from Falmouth in Cornwall was nominated by his sons, Aaron, 11, Samuel, 8, and Elliot, 6. Gary served in the Royal Marines for 22 years – which included tours in the first Gulf War and Sierra Leone.
In his spare time Gary has pushed himself to the limits physically to raise money for charity. In 2003, he took part in an Everest base camp challenge in aid of the local St Julia's Hospice. The following year he ran the London Marathon to buy equipment for his children's school. And four years ago, he took part in the North Pole Challenge, finishing in second place and raising £18,000 for a meningitis charity.
Last year, Gary entered the South Pole Challenge to raise money for the South West Children's hospice. 'As a father, visiting the hospice and knowing that many of those kids would die was so moving I felt I had to do whatever I could.'
Making his kids proud
Gary trains son Samuel's football club and also teaches at the Falmouth Canoe Club. After leaving the Marines four years ago, he set up the Arvor Academy in partnership with a local school to engage difficult or isolated children back into a social environment, and has since turned the academy into a small business, offering bike lessons, sailing trips and kayak hire.
Making his sons proud is hugely important to the former Marine, 'In the South Pole the temperature got down to -56°C. I lost two-and-a-quarter stone in four weeks. But the one thing that kept me going was thinking of my wife Tracey and my sons. At the end of the day I want my kids to think, "My dad's just an ordinary bloke, but with a bit of motivation he's achieved this – so I can too".'
