DRESSED up as a Bond girl outside the former Derby UCI cinema, Dawn-Elizabeth Rudd was relieved her fund-raising evening had gone without a hitch.

The charity screening of Die Another Day back in 2002 raised £3,000 for the NSPCC and is one of several examples of Dawn-Elizabeth's volunteer work.

Since moving to Derbyshire from London in 1996, she has involved herself in several charitable organisations, including the Treetops Hospice and CLIC Sargent.

Her enthusiasm for fund-raising and volunteering has been recognised with a nomination for a Community Champions award.

Dawn-Elizabeth, of Hall Lane, Shirley, said: "I'm rather overwhelmed but I'm absolutely delighted.

"I love doing what I do and helping people out because it brings everybody together and you forge some great friendships.

"I love using my experience to get things moving and to see the long-term benefits."

Dawn-Elizabeth first joined up with the NSPCC in London and decided to keep volunteering when she came to Derbyshire.

She restarted the Ashbourne branch of the children's charity, before being asked to become chairman of the NSPCC in mid and west Derbyshire.

Dawn-Elizabeth also helped to raise money for CLIC Sargent and contributed towards the £2m needed to create Billy's House.

Three years ago, Dawn-Elizabeth got involved with the Treetops Hospice, in Risley, which provides palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

She later became its vice-president and now helps to raise money for its Ripple Appeal, which aims to raise £1m for an extension.

She said: "The work on the Ripple Appeal extension is going really well."

Dawn-Elizabeth, who lives with husband Tim, 38, and children Lily, 12, and Oliver, 11, manages her charity work in between running her two businesses.

She raises some of her cash by hosting events on Burns' Night every two years. In January, she held this year's celebration at Heath House, in Staffordshire, and raised £12,000 for Treetops.

Dawn-Elizabeth was nominated by Yvonne Hithersay, 70, of Radbourne Common, who has played with her band, Speed the Plough, at some of the fund-raising events.

She said: "She is so considerate, kind and helpful and you have to admire her enthusiasm."

The Derby Telegraph has teamed up with BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire Building Society, Derby City Council and Derby County Football Club for the Community Champions awards.

On Sunday, May 16, our 14 winners will be invited to a presentation ceremony at Pride Park Stadium.

Nomination forms can be found at www.thisisderby shire.co.uk/champions or www.bbc.co.uk/derby.

They are also in some copies of the Derby Telegraph, or they can be collected from BBC Radio Derby in St Helen's Street, Derby, and the Derbyshire Building Society.

They should be sent to Caroline Jones, Community Champions, Derby Evening Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH by Friday, April 2.