Matt Ratana was named as this year's Unsung Hero at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show on Sunday.
It's after the former 54-year-old custody sergeant and head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club was shot dead at Croydon custody centre on September 25.
Many friends and colleagues at East Grinstead Rugby Club nominated Matt for the award, as well as scores of people across the country. His partner, Su Bushby, accepted the award on his behalf at the show held at MediaCityUK in Salford.
Su said:
"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took time to vote for Matt.
"He would have felt humbled by this. Matt was a very special man, definitely one of a kind who touched so many people's lives.
"He lit up every room and every pitch with his presence, enthusiasm, and smile.
"I am honoured to be standing here to accept this award and now his legacy for the love of rugby will live on through the foundation."
The Matt Ratana Foundation was set up in November (2020), to support young people in need through rugby both nationally and internationally.
Foundation Lead Sean Morgan said:
"This is a huge honour for Matt to be recognised in this way. The Foundation is so proud and watching Su collect the award on Matt’s behalf has only strengthened our resolve to ensure his legacy is honoured going forward."
Some of the foundation's programmes are due to start in the Spring of 2021, with the first programme set to be launched in Croydon near where Matt was working when he died
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