WORLD weightlifting champ Mike Pyke won an international gold medal with a difference this week - for being a shining light in the community.

The wheelchair athlete, now facing the biggest challenge of his life - a fight against cancer - received the Rotary Club's top honour in a surprise presentation on Wednesday.

And this puts him on a par with former PM Margaret Thatcher and DJ charity champion, Sir Jimmy Saville, who have also received the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship.

The award, sanctioned in America, has been conferred in recognition of the 34-year-old's own great achievements and his service as team leader of the Rotary Club's disabled sports squad.

North West chairman Keith Unsworth said: "We have been trying to present Mike with the award for five months, but because of his own illness, and family illness, we have not been able to do it.

"He starts his cancer treatment next week and we decided to bite the bullet and arrange the event in the hope he could make it.

"We hope that this award will give him a gee up and help him face the medicine, knowing how much people admire him.

"Mike has not had an easy life, but he has certainly triumphed over adversity. He's a man of great courage and achievement, a shining light in the community.

"He is a great example for the disabled, it is wonderful what he has accomplished.

"The award is not given lightly, and if he wears his badge he will be recognised by every Rotarian as someone very special."

The new millennium started well for Hindsford-based Mike, when he won the British weightlifting title, but took a turn for the worse when his best pal, Dave Smith, a fellow champion and wheelchair athlete, died.

However, he lifted himself to a world championship title and topped the charts again this February, by winning the British championships, held for the first time in his Leigh home town.

His fortunes then took another turn for the worse when in June he discovered he has cancer of the bladder.

Despite the blow, Mike, who was born with spina bifida, decided to get back into training for the defence of his titles, and, knowing he was well below form, competed in the national championships in Swansea last month, to take bronze.

But he put out a message to the victor that he'd be back to reclaim the title next year.

He said: "This treatment is one event I can't afford to come second in. As far as I'm concerned I've got cancer and there's not a lot I can do about it. But it will take more than this to get rid of me."

Mike, who starts intense radiotherapy treatment at Christies on Wednesday, turned up at the Fourways Assessment Centre, Tyldesley, totally unaware of the surprise in store.

He received the certificate, a boxed ceremonial medal and pin badge from Mr Unsworth, in front of wife Pauline, stepson Kenneth, close family members, Rotarians and his delighted disabled team members.