Cllr Dale Grounds, also known as That Spidey-Tastic Superhero, has been nominated for the Unsung Hero of the Year Award at the Nottingham University Hospitals annual Team NUH Awards 2019. Cllr Grounds has been shortlisted for the award thanks to his tireless work entertaining ill children and young people. He has been visiting Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, every week for over three years, dressed as Spiderman. He first suited up in 2016 in an effort to soothe his son Reece who is autistic.
The Unsung Hero of the Year Award recognises the contribution of staff who provide essential work yet do not provide direct clinical care to patients.

There were over 1,100 nominations received for all of the categories this year. Cllr Grounds nomination was handpicked as one of the three finalists from the 156 nominees that were received for the category. Cllr Grounds has also been fundraising, as Spiderman, for the Ducklings, the charity of the Nottingham Children’s Hospital School.

Cllr Grounds said “Being nominated for this award is such a huge honour. I started doing this as a way to soothe my son and then eventually to bring joy to children in hospital. I never thought that I would end up being nominated for an award alongside some incredible people. I become Spiderman because I love it, nothing beats bringing a smile to the children’s faces.

The children that I visit are so strong and brave; they are the real heroes.”
All of the shortlisted nominees will attend the award ceremony on the 5th December where the judging panel will choose the winners of each category.