Kids Count Inspiration Awards

21st November 2016

Anne Main met this year’s winner of the Most Inspirational Young Person’ awards at the Kids Count Inspiration Awards.

Gabriella Farrugia was nominated by Anne for award which took place tonight in the houses of parliament.   It is for members of parliament to nominate a young person who has inspired others ‘by their personal dedication, personality, enthusiasm, resilience, flair and commitment to issues affecting the lives of young people’.

Held every year in the Terrace, hosted by Nigel Evans with Kids Count children’s charity, they aim to help young people overcome disabilities by promoting self-help. More MPs entered nominations this year than any other year.

Anne said, ‘It was a pleasure and a delight to meet Gabriella, and to show her around parliament. 

‘Not only is she intelligent and articulate, but extremely driven and wants to continue to build on the charitable work that she done.  Her condition certainly does not hold her back.

‘Gabriella is an inspiration, and thoroughly deserved national recognition of her achievements.’

Anne’s nomination for the award read:

‘Gabriella is an outstanding individual who, despite coming against many obstacles in her short life, has worked tirelessly to inspire those around her. Diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) at a young age, an illness which cannot be eradicated, Gabriella spends much of her time in hospital with severe muscle weakness and is undergoing chemotherapy. She has shown bravery beyond her years throughout her treatment and, although she has had to learn to feed herself and walk again, has been determined to educate others about her illness and reach out to those who may feel they are suffering alone.

‘In particular, Gabriella featured as part of a campaign to enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to continue researching JDM, which raised over £2 million to equip a brand-new heart unit and ground-breaking work in the field of children’s palliative care. She has also organised a fun-run with other students at school, continuing with her fund-raising efforts and raising a further £2,000. She also held an assembly with her 360 of her peers to share her story, unaided, which is fantastic for an eleven year-old, and won the Mayor’s Young Person of Distinction Award this year for her bravery in speaking out about her condition.

‘Gabriella determination to continue fighting for Great Ormond Street Hospital and support those with JDM is admirable. Given her outstanding courage, I do hope that Gabriella’s amazing achievements will be acknowledged through this award.’

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