Post columnist Alastair Hignell has been named the 2008 recipient of BBC Sports Personality's Helen Rollason award.

The 53-year-old commentator, who played rugby union for England and cricket for Gloucestershire, was rewarded for his fundraising work since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999.

At the ceremony in Liverpool last night Mr Hignell, who writes a weekly column for the Post about rugby, was given his award by World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward.

The award is a tribute to former BBC presenter Helen Rollason MBE, who died from cancer in 1999 at the age of 43.