If you were on a car journey and passed another car by the side of the road, broken down - would you get out and help? I imagine most of us wouldn't, either because we don't have the time or assume that they'll be able to sort it out by themselves. It's something that many of us are guilty of in small ways, when we're caught up in our own busy lives - but even small actions can make a difference.

Ron, 77, and Sharleen, 58, were driving down from their home in Edinburgh to Cambridge one day when they had a minor accident. Stranded on the A19 near Stockton-on-Tees, they were in a difficult situation - as their journey was to take them to see Sharleen's mother, who was on the edge of death.

Thankfully, they were spotted by Dean Moore, who pulled over to check they were alright. "They seemed to be in a bit of shock and were on the phone to the insurance company, but it didn't seem to be taking account of their special circumstances," Moore told the BBC. "So I said, 'the car is just a bit of metal, the important thing is for you to see your mam'."

He drove them the 200 miles down, arriving just before midnight. He then dropped them off and made the trip all the way back. While he said he "just did what anyone else would have done," the couple were extremely grateful for what he did for them - especially as it proved pivotal in giving them time to say goodbye.

"I just can't put into words what that lad did for us," Ron told The Gazette.

"This happened on the Sunday and she died the next day, she died on Monday - if it hadn't been for Dean there's a fair chance we would have not got there in time.

"People get awards for various things and they are just doing their job, whereas this lad, it wasn't his job, he didn't know us from Adam."

After the 400-mile round trip, the 40-year-old from North Ormesby still refused all payment from the couple. When Ron called him up to thank him again, he downplayed his act of kindness.

"They were stuck in a bad situation, I just made it a little better I don't deserve such a fuss being made, I just want to drift off into the background. But I obviously left a good impression of the area and I'm glad about that.

"I was just trying to be a decent human because so many people drove past. By being kind and giving people your time you can make a bad situation nice by being helpful.

Even if we don't make such a significant commitment as Dean, we can all follow in his example by being a little selfless to strangers - treating them as we would like to be treated ourselves.

If you were on a car journey and passed another car by the side of the road, broken down - would you get out and help? I imagine most of us wouldn't, either because we don't have the time or assume that they'll be able to sort it out by themselves. It's something that many of us are guilty of in small ways, when we're caught up in our own busy lives - but even small actions can make a difference.

Ron, 77, and Sharleen, 58, were driving down from their home in Edinburgh to Cambridge one day when they had a minor accident. Stranded on the A19 near Stockton-on-Tees, they were in a difficult situation - as their journey was to take them to see Sharleen's mother, who was on the edge of death.

Thankfully, they were spotted by Dean Moore, who pulled over to check they were alright. "They seemed to be in a bit of shock and were on the phone to the insurance company, but it didn't seem to be taking account of their special circumstances," Moore told the BBC. "So I said, 'the car is just a bit of metal, the important thing is for you to see your mam'."

He drove them the 200 miles down, arriving just before midnight. He then dropped them off and made the trip all the way back. While he said he "just did what anyone else would have done," the couple were extremely grateful for what he did for them - especially as it proved pivotal in giving them time to say goodbye.

"I just can't put into words what that lad did for us," Ron told The Gazette.

"This happened on the Sunday and she died the next day, she died on Monday - if it hadn't been for Dean there's a fair chance we would have not got there in time.

"People get awards for various things and they are just doing their job, whereas this lad, it wasn't his job, he didn't know us from Adam."

After the 400-mile round trip, the 40-year-old from North Ormesby still refused all payment from the couple. When Ron called him up to thank him again, he downplayed his act of kindness.

"They were stuck in a bad situation, I just made it a little better I don't deserve such a fuss being made, I just want to drift off into the background. But I obviously left a good impression of the area and I'm glad about that.

"I was just trying to be a decent human because so many people drove past. By being kind and giving people your time you can make a bad situation nice by being helpful.

Even if we don't make such a significant commitment as Dean, we can all follow in his example by being a little selfless to strangers - treating them as we would like to be treated ourselves.