A Kilkenny man who has volunteered for more than 20 years to help children in Belarus and western Russia has been named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year.

Jim Kavanagh, volunteer with Chernobyl Children International, has helped to raise over €1.2m to help children and adults in Belarus and brought more than 1,000 children in to Ireland on rest and recuperation.

Mr Kavanagh - a retired father of eight - was given the award at a ceremony in Dublin City Hall.

He has driven articulated trucks across Europe, making the 6,000 mile round-trip to Belarus more than 20 times to deliver essential medical supplies, nappies, building materials and wheelchairs just to the Vesnova Children's Mental Asylum in Belarus.

In the last two years, he has transported over 400,000 nappies to Belarus.

The Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year Award is named in memory of campaigner and co-founder of the Aislinn Centre, Christine Buckley. The award was presented to Mr Buckley by Clíona Buckley, Christine's daughter.

Mr Kavanagh was nominated for the Award by Adi Roche, founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children’s International.

She said: "The scale of what Jim has achieved and accomplished is truly great. We at CCI have witnessed many people who have demonstrated the true meaning of volunteerism and we are delighted to say Jim is one of those stand-out special people who possesses the true spirit of volunteerism."

The full list of 2014 winners are below:

• Animals and Environment: Stephen O’Gara, Irish Coast Guard Howth, Dublin
• Arts, Culture and Media: Bríd Finn, Elemental Arts & Culture Festival, Limerick
• Campaigning and Awareness Raising: Carmel McDonnell-Byrne, Aislinn Education & Support Centre, Dublin
• Children and Youth: Annette Woolley, Foróige, Dublin
• Community: Paraic Noone, Keadue Development Association, Roscommon
• Education and Training: Quaid Cleland, The Sign Language Association, Dublin
• Health and Disability: Majella Forde, Irish Red Cross Tralee, Kerry
• International Development: Jim Kavanagh, Chernobyl, Kilkenny
• Social Work: Michael Mackey, Galway Simon Community, Galway
• Sports and Recreation: Linda Gaffney, Whitehall Colmcille GAA, Dublin