An inspirational wheelchair adventurer from Lancaster has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List.
Shaun Gash was awarded the honour by King Charles III for services to charity and disabled people.
Shaun has used a wheelchair for 33 years, ever since he was paralysed from his chest down following a car accident when he was 20.
Seven years ago, he also lost his leg while climbing Ben Nevis mountain in Scotland.
But Shaun has been determined to show other people that any obstacle can be overcome, taking on some of the world's toughest challenges to raise thousands for charities.
"Life's too short," said Shaun, in an interview with Beyond Radio in November.
"I think we're all governed by having things handed to us on a plate, and I wanted to push myself and push my boundaries every single day when I wake up.
"I am thankful that I'm here. They gave me two days to live after my accident. If I can push myself and strive to do a challenge as well as support not just UK charities but local communities wherever I go, then why not?
"I want to get to an age where I can look back and say, I did that, rather than look back and say, I wish I did that."
Shaun is pictured below with Beyond Radio's Luke Stutchbury.
His successful challenges included sky diving and scuba diving, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and travelling in his chair from Land's End to John O'Groats.
This year Shaun set two new world records - including being the first paraplegic amputee to canoe the Zambezi river.
He and two other wheelchair users were part of a team who successfully canoed 280km from Chirundu in Zambia to the Mozambique border.
Along the way they encountered elephants, hippos, crocodiles and lions, and had to deal with flat tyres and capsized canoes, but achieved their goal after seven days.
They raised money for Spinal Research and Whizz Kidz, the UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users.
Along the way, Shaun, his wife Dawn and the team helped the local Zambian community by delivering supplies to a school and medical centre.
Two weeks before going to Zambia, Shaun achieved another world record in Egypt.
He and his friend Mohammed Salim Patel, a blind BBC journalist from Blackburn, became the first paraplegic and visually impaired person to dive 40m and be underwater for 60 minutes.
They had trained with Morecambe Area Divers at Capernwray Diving Centre in Carnforth, and featured in a documentary series on BBC North West Tonight.
Shaun is also one of the coaches for the Lancaster Bulldogs wheelchair basketball team, a motivational speaker and an international product specialist for RGK Wheelchairs.
Earlier this year, Shaun was one of a group of people across the country who was invited to appear on ITV show Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway after raising a combined £40m for good causes.
Kevin Camplin from Lancaster has also been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List, for services to mountain rescue.
Read more: Lancaster search and rescue hero awarded MBE in New Year's Honours List - Beyond Radio
Allan Craig Muirhead of Carnforth has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community of Kirkby Lonsdale.
Mr Muirhead is chair of the Kirkby Lonsdale and Lune Valley Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit organisation which campaigns on behalf of the town and runs a number of its facilities.
Praise for Lancaster and Morecambe youngsters who took part in 'tongue movement' project
Clinic where students offer free legal advice to reopen at Lancaster University
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
