Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew will be special guest at tomorrow’s Pride in Medway gala night.

He will meet community stalwarts, young heroes and remarkable fundraisers who will all be honoured at the ceremony at the Pilkington Building, Chatham Maritime.

About 60 people, groups and organisations were put forward for the 2011/2012 awards scheme and the judges have chosen the finalists to go through to the gala night.

Duncan, who won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the Moscow games in 1980, will present prizes to the overall winner and those who receive the sponsors’ special awards.

Speaking to www.medwaymessenger.co.uk before the ceremony, he said award schemes like Pride in Medway had an important part to play in a community.

“I don’t think we celebrate success very well and it is important to recognise it,” he said.

“I know how difficult it is to get people to come forward to and talk about their success and achievements. Awards like this allow us to find out who they are.”

Duncan said he had been involved in awards schemes in other parts of the country and found them “deeply humbling”.

“You think you have achieved something but you go away thinking ‘I am only on the foothills’”

Also among the guests at tomorrow’s ceremony will be last year’s overall winner, charity stalwart and veteran runner Jack Denness.

Pride in Medway is supported by Medway Council, mhs homes, the Medway Messenger, the University of Kent, Medway Council, E.ON and Southern Water.