Published: March 30, 2007
Brave Burnham-On-Sea youngsters honoured at 2007 Courage Awards

Three young people from the Burnham-On-Sea area who have successfully overcome difficulties received recognition during the Rotary Club's annual Youth Of Courage awards held on Thursday evening, March 29th.

During the ceremony, which was held at The Battleborough Grange Hotel, a civic plaque was presented to each child by the Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, Cllr Eric Gill. Each also received a citation from the President of Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club, Mike Young.

The winners included Leanne Pengelly, who is aged nine and a pupil of St. John's School, Highbridge. Her mother, Sandra, suffers from a degenerative disability and is in a wheelchair. Leanne is her carer, looking after her mother, as well as doing her school work.

She was nominated by her Headmaster, Mr. David Penney, for her quiet cheerfulness and hard work despite the extra burdens she has to bear, refusing to be weighed down by circumstances that would defeat others.

Stephanie Jefferies, 10, suffers from Cerebral Palsy on her left side. Despite this, she is passionate that nothing should stop her and other disabled children from achieving their dreams. She has a Labrador dog, Kimmy, who visits Frith House fortnightly as a therapy dog. Kimmy was in attendance at Thursday night's event and behaved perfectly. Stephanie was nominated by local photographer Mike Lang.

Katrina Doyle was nominated by her headmaster, Mr Peter Yardley of Berrow School. Aged eight, she suffers from leukemia and at one stage had to wear a wig when she lost her hair.

It is now growing again, and she is always happy and bears her treatment and its discomforts with fortitude, though she gets very tired. She has her own website and has raised to date over £1,600 for Cancer Research.

The organiser of this year's awards, Rotarian Jenny Taylor, said: "In an age when so much bad news about young people is reported, it is a pleasure to be able to give credit to those who set such shining examples."

The Rotary 'Youth of Courage' Awards were instituted by the Rotary Club of Burnham-On-Sea to recognise the achievements of young people who have shown courage in overcoming particular difficulties or barriers which could have prevented them from reaching their goals.

Last year's winner was Mark Broadway, who whilst acting as carer for his mother achieved success in his A Level studies and has since gone on to university.

At the first awards three years ago, the winner was Anthony Stevens from Highbridge who overcame physical disability as a competitive swimmer, and subsequently represented Great Britain in the last Paralympics.

RELATED LINKS:

2006 Youth Of Courage Awards

Images courtesy of Brian Bell