The man who helped start the Julia's House charity has been honoured in the "Nobel Prize" of the charitable world.

Mike Wise, chairman of the Dorset children's hospice, has been highly commended in the Community Builder category of the prestigious national Beacon Prize.

With more than 50-years of dedication to the charity sector under his belt, Mike was described by Fintan Nicholls of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust as "truly remarkable".

Mike, who has Parkinson's Disease, was selected for the award in a year which saw the highest number of new nominations since Beacon's launch in 2003.

"I am deeply honoured to achieve this national award that embraces a lifetime's work in many communities, culminating in the success of our Dorset-based Julia's House project," he said.

"I pay tribute to the thousands of volunteers who I have worked with over my 50-years in the voluntary sector."

Mike was a friend of the founder of the charity, Julia Perks, who died from cancer in 1997.

He shared her dream for a children's hospice and was a vital force in helping make it a reality.

Julia's House opened in 2006 and has developed a major service caring for life-limited children in Dorset, both at the Corfe Mullen hospice and through its home care service.

Of the 40 children's hospices nationwide, it is one of just five that offer home visiting services, providing children and their families with invaluable support.

Mike was involved in the charitable world long before he moved to Dorset in the 1970s and his CV includes head of establishment at the Seaview Centre, special school governor and chairman of the Council for Voluntary Service.

His charity missions include a trip to an orphanage for 160 disabled children in Latvia in 1978 and a tandem parachute jump to raise funds for the hospice.

Grandfather to seven, he intends to keep up his charitable work.

"I may consider retiring when I can't crawl any more," he said.