HAIL ALL THE HEROES

PRIDE OF BRITAIN: WINNERS ARE THE REAL STARS...

- BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG

INSPIRATION Trainer Javeno McLean with Frank Bruno and Barry McGuigan THIS MORNING LOCAL HEROES Ups & Downs theatre group with Ben Shephard

IT'S the heartwarming event that has celebrated the very best of British for more than a quarter of a century.

And once again it was the inspiring people behind incredible stories of bravery who moved a host of celebrities, actors and sport stars to tears at the 26th Daily Mirror Pride of Britain awards with P&O Cruises.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was there with his wife Victoria to pay tribute to the long line of unsung heroes as they received the recognition they so richly deserve.

At just 12 years old, Luke Mortimer typified what the night is all about when he received his Child of Courage trophy. Luke had all his limbs amputated after contracting meningo-coccal meningitis septicaemia in 2019.

Yet still he thought of others.

The audience at London's Grosvenor House Hotel gave the cheeky lad a huge round of applause as they heard how he donated thousands for children with disabilities through his extraordinary fundraising activities.

In 2024 he climbed Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales with his mum Christine and brother Harry, 15, meeting his dad Adam and a team of 19 who were climbing the National Three Peaks and Yorkshire Three Peaks.

They raised almost £20,000 to fund prosthetic limbs for Luke and other child amputees.

His favourite TV stars. Ant and Dec, sent a message to Luke, who told host Carol Vorderman of his motto: "Hope for a good time and try and make it happen." Adam added: "We are massively proud of him, he takes everything in his slightly smaller stride."