Prime Minister Theresa May this week honoured retired surgeon Norman Rosenbaum with a Point of Light award for raising hundreds of thousands of pounds to buy 11 ambulances for Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom. He is currently raising money for his twelfth ambulance.
83-year-old Norman has spearheaded an ongoing community fundraising drive in the Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue to supply the vehicles which have gone on to attend over 63,000 emergencies, providing medical aid to the sick and the injured regardless of religion, race, nationality or gender.
Part of the International Red Cross Movement, ‘Magen David Adom’ is the national aid society of Israel, providing emergency care, supplying blood and cooperating with the Palestinian Red Crescent and other Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations across the world.
In a personal letter to Mr Rosenbaum, Prime Minister May said that Mr his efforts were inspirational: “Your dedication to fundraising in support of MDA’s important work is inspirational. The ambulances you have purchased are saving lives and enabling the organisation to reach people in need of urgent medical care in emergencies”.
Mr Rosenbaum said the award was an “unexpected and overwhelming honour”, adding: “It shows that volunteers are highly valued, and together can make an incredible difference”.
The Points of Light awards are issued to those recognised as “outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others”.
