'Dancing with the Stars' JR Martinez awarded Unsung Hero prize

JR Martinez has been given the Unsung Hero Award at Lois Pope's Lady in Red Ball.

The war veteran, who was recently crowned the winner of Dancing with the Stars' 13th season, attended the event on Friday at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club Friday night in Palm Beach as Pope's guest of honour.

The Unsung Hero Award was bestowed upon Martinez for "overcoming devastating injuries to make a full life for himself and in so doing bring the plight of America's three million living disabled veterans into our country's consciousness".

Martinez was originally asked to dance with an anonymous donor who gave $25,000 to benefit the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial that Pope is currently building in Washington. However, he eventually danced with Pope herself.

"I am so thrilled to meet his charming man. I voted for him on Dancing with the Stars and asked all my friends to do the same. I am honoured and inspired to be in his presence," Pope told People.

Martinez also expressed his happiness at receiving the honour, saying: "I am honoured to be here, because Lois Pope's mission to build this Memorial in Washington is so awesome for someone like me to see."

Following his Dancing with the Stars win, Martinez said that he was proud of his many accomplishments on the show.

He was recently invited to visit the Pentagon to meet with US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta.