A convenience store owner who was surprised by Fleur East on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway sent his family to Florida while he continued to help those in need.
Sheraz Awan, who owns Westerhope Convenience Store in Westerhope, Newcastle, began handing out free loaves of bread to the community during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, the 46-year-old dad-of-three was surprised by Fleur East live on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway with a trip to Florida for the final show of the series.
Unbeknown to him, his manager Julia Boyd, 55, had nominated him for a place on the plane. She felt he deserved to be recognised for the work he does for people in the local area.
However Sheraz decided not to go on the trip as he was picking up some bread (1,100 loaves) and felt he could not let down those who were relying on it.
He decided to send his wife Sadia, 42, and his three children Sania, 19, Samah, 17 and Shayan, 14, to Florida while he continued to work in Newcastle.
Sheraz, who has had the shop for more than 20 years, said: "There were over 2000 people who had to be fed.
"What do you do? Feed people or become selfish and say I will enjoy myself and the holiday.
"I feel a lot of people were depending on me and I didn't want to let them down. People were saying 'You're being very selfless'.
"I sent my wife and three children and they said it was absolutely amazing. They said there were quite a lot of people on the plane asking about me."
Sheraz has now had a Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway mural painted on the door of his shop. It includes a picture of him, Fleur East, Ant & Dec as well as loaves of Warburtons bread.
Earlier this month, his family boarded the plane with the Geordie presenters and other winners. While they were in Florida, they contacted Sheraz and Dec spoke to him over Facetime.
Sheraz said: ]"He said: 'You know what, you do a great job with all that free bread. You're such a selfless man, good on you'.
"He said: 'Next time I'm in Newcastle I will come to your shop and see you'. I said: 'Dec, I cannot wait!'
"He said 'Should I bring Ant as well?' I said 'I'm serious' and he said 'I'm serious as well, we will come to your shop!'
Sheraz travels to cash and carry's all over the North East to collect bread and other groceries which he can give away for free.
He said that since his appearance on the ITV show, the number of people visiting the shop for help has increased from 1,000 per week to around 2,000 per week.
Sheraz is now trying to provide families with other food and drink items, as well as bread. He said people travel miles to pick up the products.
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