A MASCOT who has raised thousands of pounds for charity and had a trophy named in his honour has been described as ‘inspirational’.

Philip Thexton, a former St Wilfrid’s CE Academy student, has helped raise £55,000 in his role as Leo the Lion, a mascot at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

He also spends his Saturdays and Sundays coaching football for AFC Santander.

It was this role that earned him a trophy for his contribution to the community and now the bank has announced it will name it the Thexton Trophy in his honour.

The 27-year-old, who works as a post room assistant and carries out other duties at the hospital after moving to the town a few years ago, said he has struggled over the years after being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia.

He said: “After starting work at the hospital I got involved with the hospital charity as a mascot.

“As Leo the Lion I do a lot of events to raise money.

“I was only planning to do it once then I kept getting asked and three years down the line and I’m still really enjoying it.

“Some people are a bit scared of Leo but others come and shake my hand and give me high fives.

“I raise money because the hospital is there to provide a service. The population is growing and growing so it definitely needs more funding.”

Always a football fan, Mr Thexton, who returns to the Cherry Tree area of Blackburn where he grew up regularly, is a Chelsea fan who received letters from the former manager Jose Mourinho after his teacher Yvonne Hindle got in touch with him.

“He wrote me a letter saying thank you for helping her at school. I wrote back and he wrote again. It inspired me to get into coaching,” Mr Thexton said.

“I’ve won the clubman of the year trophy for the last four years so instead of giving it to me this year they have named it after me.

“It is a real honour and I hope it inspires others to help in their community.

“I have had a bit of a journey because of my dyslexia and dyspraxia. I look back and I feel proud of myself and I think my family and teachers are.”

Mr Thexton is also planning on running races next year to raise even more cash.

Mrs Hindle, his former PE teacher, said: “He has overcome a few setbacks in his life to make his way and secure a job and he uses his leisure time to help others.

“I think it is fantastic. He is an inspiration and to have Santander recognise that is wonderful.”