A MAN who helped raise more than £500,000 for charity and was awarded an MBE for his services to the community has died, aged 70.

Barry Steed, devoted his spare time to raising money for more than 80 charities in Dorset, organising carnivals and other events.

He later set up an official register of local stallholders to help charity fete organisers called the Wessex Helpline.

His mother, Edna Travis from Boscombe, said he was “always a very caring and sharing man with his friends and family” for whom “nothing was too much trouble”.

Mr Steed suffered two strokes during his life. After the second stroke, his health deteriorated and he died on January 27.

The father-of-two jumped on board the fundraising wagon when his daughter, Lorraine, was diagnosed with Perthes’ Disease at the age of three. He started helping other disabled children by supplying them with wheelchairs and other aids to keep them mobile.

Shortly after, Mr Steed organised various other charity events, including the Mayor of Poole’s Spring Fair and the Poole Park Show.

Although he sought no recognition for his work, he was widely renowned for it and was appointed an MBE.

Poole councillor David Brown knew Mr Steed for his work in the Bearwood community.

“He dedicated his life to supporting good causes,” he said.

“He knew the ins and outs of organising and running good fundraising events and supported his local community in Bearwood with his time, knowledge and stalls to raise money for local projects which would otherwise struggle, particularly local youth work.

A funeral service was held on February 9 at Poole Crematorium.