Inspiring youngsters named 'Bravehearts'

YOUNG PEOPLE GIVEN AWARDS FOR THEIR IMMENSE COURAGE FIGHTING TERMINAL ILLNESSES

- By POPPY KENNEDY & SAM VOLPE

The Braveheart Awards 2025 at St. James' Park

(IAIN BUIST)

THE bravery of youngsters across Teesside and the North have been commended in a heartwarming ceremony.

The Braveheart awards highlight children and teenagers from across the region who have been diagnosed with devastating conditions.

The charity runs moving ceremonies twice a year at St James' Park and has been going since 1989, inspired by the determination of brain tumour patient Joanne Gillespie. Joanne, who was from Stockton, wrote a book called Brave Heart to inspire other youngsters not to stop fighting terminal illness.

Now, her legacy continues and youngsters who have bounced back from indescribable things enjoyed an exciting day out and the chance to meet some of their movie heroes - as performers playing Spiderman and Elsa from Frozen were also present.

Famous names including newsreader Carol Malia and paralympian Josef Craig helped hand out the prizes, while Alan Shearer and Mark Knopfler sent video messages sharing their congratulations and best wishes.

In more than 35 years, 776 youngsters have now been made part of what charity Bravehearts of the North East calls a "very special family".

The children come from across the region - with youngsters hailing from the likes of Saltburn, Stockton, Carlisle and Hartlepool. Each has been nominated to mark their bravery and resilience by someone involved in their care.

Those to be made Bravehearts included little Ollie Noble, six, who has defied Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) - and even suffered sepsis during gruelling treatment over years. Ollie's dad Dave said: "From what he's been through, to now, it's unbelievable."

And Teesside's Layla Kitching, 11, was presented with her award on the same day she celebrated "ringing the bell" at the Royal Victoria Infirmary to mark the fact that she is cancer-free.