GARETH Tanswell's voluntary efforts have already landed him in the national limelight - but the 17-year-old has taken it all in his unassuming stride.

The Welsh regional winner of the Nationwide building society's awards for voluntary endeavour in 2000 got to wear Olympic rowing legend Matthew Pinsent's gold medal at a special ceremony honouring young people.

But although he describes the experience as a memorable one, the Newport youngster clearly takes greater satisfaction from doing his charity work out of the public gaze.

Gareth (pictured) devotes much of his spare time to raising money for St Anne's Hospice, in Malpas, Newport. He lives in the area with parents Bob and Janet.

He began in 1997 after doing some fundraising for his local church, St Mary's. "Someone there mentioned the hospice to me. I went to visit them and saw how much good work they do," he said.

Since then, he has organised quiz nights and gone on sponsored walks and helped sell items from the charity catalogue.

"At the moment I am helping my dad, who is running an appeal for people to donate their unwanted foreign currency for the hospice," he said.It is these efforts that earned Gareth nomination for the Nationwide award in the under-18 category.

Exam revision and work at his school - Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, at Pontypool - means he is not able to devote as much time as usual to his voluntary work.

But he is planning a sponsored walk across the Severn Bridge in May.