Humble Rashford pays tribute to his mum after being awarded an MBE

Marcus Rashford paid tribute to his mum after being awarded an MBE for leading the fight against child poverty, and told the public to 'pat themselves on the back' for 'surviving' the pandemic-hit year of 2020.

The Manchester United star led a successful campaign to extend the provision of free school meals for vulnerable children during the spring lockdown, and continues to work on projects to tackle child hunger.

The 23-year-old was an awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list in October as well as a host of other recognitions after his extraordinary work during the pandemic.

And the humble Rashford says all the celebrated traits he has been praised so highly for are learned from his mother, Melanie Maynard.

'She's everything. Every positive characteristic you see in me is her. If I could describe her in three words it would be strong, protective, undefeated,' Rashford told the Guardian.

'I was concerned for children just like me if the schools closed as part of the national lockdown,' he says. 'Without breakfast club and free school meals, I had very little. What would me and my mum have done?

'I knew what that fear felt like. I knew what fear in my mum looked like. I didn't want that for any child or any parent.'

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK, with the public hit hard by the physical, mental and economical impacts of the virus and the two national lockdowns it forced.

The England international said the public deserves praise for coping during the difficult year.

'Surviving this year with Covid impacting mental health and health in general, loss and unemployment, is big enough', Rashford added.

'Everyone should pat themselves on the back for that because it's not been easy.'