5:00am Friday 27th February 2009
By Chris Phillips
WINNING the special achievement section at the Echo Sports Awards made it a superb day of double celebration for Arron Williams.
Just hours before picking up his trophy at the Sky Bar from former England international Jeff Probyn, Williams discovered he would be going back to work for the police-force.
And the remarkable 26-year-old was full of smiles at the news.
“This completes a great day for me,” said Williams.
“I’m delighted to win the award and I didn’t think I had a chance as I was in the same section as Mark Foster.
“I thought he was going to walk away with it so it was a real shock when they announced my name, but it was a great surprise.”
But Williams was, in fact, a convincing winner in the Special Achievement category.
He broke his neck in September 2007 while playing rugby for Basildon against South Woodham Ferrers and will now be paralysed for the rest of his life.
But the club set up a trust fund to raise money for him and other charities and, with donations, they have now collected more than £100,000.
That and Williams’ amazing personality and bravery led to him winning an Echo award.
Yet he was typically keen to play down his part in the proceedings.
“This award is more about the support that I’ve received than anything I’ve done,” said Williams. “I’ve been very lucky and the way people have helped me has just been superb.
“Sarah Chamberlain set up the trust fund in the first place so I owe her an awful lot, and Basildon Rugby Club too.
“They have just been brilliant, especially Keith Hill and I’m incredibly grateful for what they’ve done.
“My work colleagues have helped me an awful lot too and so has my girlfriend Danielle.
“I’ve never really thanked her before so I would like to change that and to also tell her I love her lots.”
Williams finished ahead of Benfleet Running Club with Keith Passingham in third.
Full results: 1st Arron Williams, 2nd Benfleet Running Club, 3rd Keith Passingham, 4th Mark Foster, 5th Westcliff Rugby Club 23.
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