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Night of celebs
JAYNE TORVILLE:
"Children's Champions is such an fantastic cause and I've met some amazing people tonight. I was particularly touched by the story of Children's Award winner Cameron Small because he has this rare medical condition but still puts himself before others. He might be only ten but he's probably as close to a hero as you'll ever meet. I've laughed and cried all night long, but I'm so glad that I came."
PAUL O'GRADY:
"I've had such a fabulous time meeting all these incredible people. When you get involved with something like Children's Champions, it is really heart-warming to see how much good there is out there in the world. These people are the real heroes and these should be the people that we all look up to, and not some celebrity. They truly deserve to enjoy tonight because they are honestly a great bunch of guys. I've met them all and I couldn't pick an overall winner because they are all winners tonight."
CAMILLA DALLERUP
"What an incredible and emotional night. I'm so glad that I came to support such an incredible cause and to see how much the winners have enjoyed the day is so heart-warming. I've been on my feet for standing ovations more times than I can remember at any ceremony I've been to. I'll remember tonight for a long, long time."
LOUISA LYTTON
"I've supported Children's Champions for a few years now and every year it presses home just how important these awards are. We need things like this to recognise the amazing achievements of people throughout the country because these unsung heroes should be cheered from the rooftops.
I think the Schools Award particularly touched me because I know exactly what the winner Emma-Jane Cross was talking about. When she read out a long list of people of people affected by bullying I knew that she was going to end it with the comment that they'd all committed suicide.
"Everyone on my table was shocked, but I know that bullying is a problem that needs to be tackled harder.
I was bullied at school quite badly so I know how bad it can get and how low people can sink when they are actually getting bullied. Emma-Jane is just a ray of sunshine in so many children's lives. I am really proud to be associated with Children's Champions."
THEO WALCOTT
"I've met some brilliant people tonight and their stories are something I take a lot strength from. I said to all the guys who asked for my autograph that they could only have it if they gave me their autograph in return.”
ANTHONY COSTA
"It's been a very emotional night for me and I've been humbled by the whole thing. Each of the stories have been special in its own way so I couldn't pick one that has touched me more than the other. The News of the World has done something very special here tonight and I am proud to come along and support it."
ROSS KEMP
"It is so humbling to meet these people who think nothing of giving up all their free time to make the lives of children better. Every celeb here has been left speechless in awe of their stories - and quite rightly so. It’s just been a fantastic night."
NIKKI SANDERSON
"This is the third year I've been to the Children’s Champions awards and every time I'm left crying in astonishment. I'm so glad to be even the smallest part of such a special day for these people. I think the work of Emma-Jane Cross is amazing. I was bullied at school, the only thing I looked forward to was drama club on a Saturday which was my only release. I know how hard life is for kids that get bullied, and she totally deserves that award."
FARYL SMITH
"To be asked to sing tonight at the champagne reception was an honour. The thing that impressed me most though was hearing the stories of Cameron Small and Paul Leonard. They're only a few of years younger than me and their bravery is amazing. Going to Downing Street with the winners was amazing too.”
MELINDA MESSENGER
"It's been such a brilliant night. You sit here and listen to the stories and just think 'Wow! What these people are doing is absolutely incredible'. It makes you think about what is important in life. I feel really inspired being here tonight. It makes you want to go out and do something important, and the most important thing you can do is help other people, especially children."
GEORGE SAMPSON
"I am having a really good time. I always like going to things that celebrate people who are doing something positive to make the world a better place. Then it's not just a good night out, but a good night out that actually means something. Children’s Champions fits that bill perfectly - it’s brilliant.”
The winners
Schools Award and Overall Children's Champion 2009:
Emma-Jane Cross
Emma-Jane with Jayne Torville & Christopher Dean
LECTURER Emma-Jane gave up her well-paid job to launch the charity Beatbullying from her kitchen table.
That was ten years ago and since then, thanks to her efforts, more than 1.5million schoolchildren across the country have been inspired to stamp out the bullying.
Those schools that use the scheme have seen bullying fall by 80 per cent.
It is vital work with no time to spare. Some 2.4m kids are bullied each year in Britain.
Emma-Jane, 41, of south-east London, says: “Beatbullying was born out of a pretty fierce sense of social justice.”
As she accepted her trophy from Torville and Dean, Emma-Jane dedicated her award to a long list of children.
Many in the room thought that these were simply the names of youngsters who had been bullied. Then she dropped the bombshell. These were the names of children, bullied beyond endurance, who had committed suicide.
EastEnders and The Bill star Louisa Lytton admitted to us afterwards: “That award touched me particularly deeply because I know exactly what Emma-Jane was talking about.
"
When she read out that list I knew how it was going to end, but everyone on my table was shocked. I was bullied at school quite badly so I know how horrible it can get and how low people can sink.
“But Emma-Jane is a ray of sunshine in so many children’s lives.”
Judges' Special Award
2008 was, for too many people, a year of tragedy in our communities with so many youngsters falling victim to knife and street crime.Our Children's Champions judges felt they wanted to recognise those families who, by campaigning or simply by personal example, have fought back from their awful loss to show the world that there can be another way.
Representing so many of these households, they chose three...the families of Ben Kinsella, Jimmy Mizen, and Damilola Taylor.
And representing those families on stage were Ben's sister Brooke Kinsella, Jimmy's parents Barry and Margaret Mizen, and Damilola's dad Richard Taylor.
Brooke Kinsella with Prince Andrew
Presenting their awards, Prince Andrew said: “We must recognise those who stand up in our society to offer help and care to others, and those who stand up to violence in our communities.
" And that’s what makes all the Children’s Champions so special. The grassroots work you do is the hallmark of what makes us great.”
Prince Andrew with Barry Mizen and Richard Taylor
Speaking on behalf of the three families, Mr Taylor said: “This award is not for three families alone, it’s for all families that have suffered various forms of gun and knife crime.”
Children's Award: Cameron Small
Cameron with Tupele Dorgu and Helen Flanagan
BRAVE Cameron, ten, is battling a rare, life-threatening condition which has meant 900 hospital visits—yet the big-hearted lad has managed to raise more than £80,000 to help other kids.
The young hero was diagnosed soon after his first birthday with Evans Syndrome, a deficiency of the immune system which means his body’s defences turn on themselves.
Since then he has had more than 20 blood transfusions, chemotherapy and treatment for diabetes.
Meanwhile, his untiring charity work has given a big boost to hospitals where staff have saved his life on a number of occasions.
Cameron, from Preston, brings in cash by organising quiz nights, car washes, raffles, musical evenings, you name it.
He was shortlisted for our Children’s Award last year, when he had raised a little under £70,000 for charity. He didn’t quite win then but that didn’t faze him—and he’s since raised a further £15,000 and deservedly scooped the title this year.
Through his efforts Cameron, a pupil at Alston Lane Catholic primary school, has equipped hospital wards with TV sets, computers and games.
He has also bought several laptops for young patients to use on the specialist children’s cancer and blood illness ward so they can work and play in their beds.
Dad Andrew, 46, says proudly: “It’s his determination to help others that sets him apart. He won £1,000 last Spring from a Manchester award that recognised his achievements. It was the first thing he’d ever won.
“He then asked us to take £200 cash out of that, which he used as a prize for a raffle which he held on the local village gala day.
“This raised another £400 which he spent on wet-weather toys for his school so that the children would not be bored at lunchtimes.
“Even we were amazed by this effort. He’s my hero.”
He was presented with his trophy by Corrie stars Tupele Dorgu and Helen Flanagan. Tupele said: “I think he’s fantastic.”
Utterly unfazed, Cameron told the audience: “I’m so pleased to receive this award on behalf of all the poorly children. To all of the doctors and nurses and medical helpers who have helped not only me, but thousands of other brave children, thank you.”
Individual Award:
Mick and Chriss Smith
Sebastian Coe announces Mick and Chriss's award
INSTEAD of moaning about the teenagers hanging around their street, elderly couple Mick and Chriss Smith began to chat to them.
The youngsters took a shine to the pair and kind Mick, 62, started mending their bikes.
Then, as more and more kept arriving he set up an impromptu garage at his home in East Worthing, Sussex.
Locals saw what was happening and offered to help. Now Mick and 63-year-old Chriss run a community house attended by more than 6,000 children and their families every year.
Chriss says: “This is our life now, it has given us new meaning.”
Presenting their award, Olympic hero and Champs judge Lord Seb Coe said: “Mick and Chriss are true Champions and I’m honoured to present this award to them.”
Chriss, 63, said: “Every child is special. We love them all.”
999 Award: Gareth Crook
Ross Kemp congratulares Gareth
GARETH saved 14- year-old stab victim Jessica Knight’s life after finding her near death in a park.
She had been knifed 20 times by a drunken maniac.
Using emergency skills learned in the army, Gareth, of Chorley, Lancs, inserted his fingers into the deepest wound in her neck to staunch the bleeding until he could wrap his scarf around the cut – then he tended to her until paramedics arrived.
Jessica, now 15, said: “He’s my hero. I’d have died without him. I just can’t thank him enough.”
Gareth, 31, said: “I’m just glad I was there to help. “I guess you never forget the training.”
As he collected his award, Gareth said: “It’s a great privilege to take this award away tonight, but the best reward is knowing that Jessica is still alive.”
Royal Marine Matt Croucher, who won the George Cross for jumping on a live grenade to save fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, presented the award with TV star Ross Kemp.
Matt said: “It’s nice to be called a hero, but I was only doing my job - unlike the winner of this year’s 999 award. He was just a passer-by who used his army training to save her when she was seconds away from death.”
Ross Kemp added: ''Today’s world lacks people who will stop and help. Gareth is an example to us all.”
Post Office Award: Hugh McBean
Paul O'Grady with Hugh and wife Mandy
POSTIE Hugh and his wife Mandy lost their own daughter to a rare genetic disorder —now they offer respite care to others whose children have special needs.
The couple, from Nairn in Scotland, also take in kids who need emergency fostering. They started doing all this after daughter Anastasia died at the age of nine.
Rather than give in to grief, they felt they still had so much love and care to give it shouldn’t be wasted.
Hugh, 40, says: “When Anastasia was ill and we needed a break, we had to take her two hours away to a hospice.
“But it’s so important to give parents a break, maybe to spend time with their other children. I know it gave us a chance to do something with our sons.”
As she welcomed the McBeans on stage, our co-presenter, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, was visibly moved.
Anastasia had died on Christmas Day 2002. One of the last films the entire family had watched together was The Spice Girls Movie. As Emma and Hugh hugged tightly on stage, the entire audience felt their grief.
Hugh said from the stage: “Losing Anastasia ripped the hearts out of us as a family. But we just hope that wherever she is, she’s very proud of us.”
Presenting their award, an emotional Paul O’Grady said: “You can’t imagine how hard it is to lose a child. What the McBeans have done is truly amazing.”
Sports Award: June Kelly
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Dame Kelly with June
JUNE works at a primary school, but in her free time has become such a popular football coach she’s known as the Pied Piper—so many children follow wherever she goes.
She spends every weekday evening helping almost 300 children aged five to 16 and from 27 nationalities in deprived area Cheetham Hill, Manchester.
At weekends she organises sponsored bag packing at local supermarkets and puts all the money raised into the club.
Twenty-six of the boys she trained have gone on to play professional football. June, 38, is now such a well- loved figure she was even asked to cut the ribbon at the opening of a new Tesco in her area!
June says: “I haven’t any children of my own, but all the kids know they can call me any time. It’s just like one big family.”
Clearly astonished by the plaudits she received, 38-year-old June told the audience at the gala awards: “This has been an amazing day—but I’d like to thank the boys and girls of Cheetham Hill, because this award is for them.”
Olympic hero and Champs judge Dame Kelly Holmes said: “She’s a wonderful ambassador for sport. She trains with the children come rain or shine— and I know how hard that is. And when she’s not training, she’s organising fund-raising events.
“She gives up her life for the benefit of these youngsters.”
Barnardo's Award: Doug Easterbrook
DOUG has a full-time job at Cardiff City Council but is also a volunteer with Barnardo’s mentoring service.
Among the youngsters he helps through difficult times is a 15-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome, who’d love to become a forensic scientist . . . if only he could stay out of trouble in school.
“Doug has helped me control my anger,” he says. “He is my inspiration, he won’t give up on me.”
Doug, from Caerphilly, explains: “Sometimes people just need an adult to trust. I feel privileged to be that person.”
Proud Doug said from the stage: “We demonise teenagers, but there are many good, honest kids out there.
“It’s great to be recognised for the work I do, but this has never been why I and hundreds of other Barnardo’s mentors do it.”
Barnardo’s ambassador and Dancing on Ice star Melinda Messenger, pictured below with Doug, said: “Meeting people like him is the reason I became a mentor for the charity.
“Being here tonight makes you want to do something important, and the most important thing you can do is help children.”
Medical Award: Pat Wade
Pat with Roxanne Pallett & Dr Hilary Jones
PAT started Britain’s first Burned Children’s Club to give confidence to youngsters injured by fire who are self-conscious about their scars.
Pat, 62, of Basildon, Essex, began the club from her spare bedroom with a £9,000 loan.
Now there are more than ten such voluntary clubs, arranging activities and holidays for child victims.
She was nominated by ten-year-old Darren Garrod, of Clacton, Essex, badly scalded in a kettle accident at age two.
He says: “Pat helped me have more confidence and feel like I’m not the only person to have got burned.”
Pat received her award from News of the World and TV doctor Hilary Jones and Dancing on Ice star Roxanne Pallett who said: “Pat teaches these children to do what they’d forgotten–have fun again.”
Dr Hilary Jones added: “Pat is a really remarkable lady.”
Judges' Extra Awards
Leo laps up the attention with trainer Helen and Amanda Holden
With apologies to all the winners, one of the great centres of attention in the room was...Leo the Labrador.
He was there because he’s one of the few dogs in Britain trained to work with disabled children.
His trainer, Helen McCain, was one of four people given Judges’ Extra Awards because the competition was so tight this year that they simply couldn’t be left out.
Paul Leonard with Amanda Holden
The others were 10-year-old Paul Leonard from Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, who rescued his mother and younger brother and sister from an horrific van crash even though he was in agony with a broken arm himself.
Amanda Holden, Emma Bunton with Nicola and Shirley
Then there was hospital cook Shirley Moore, 44, of Sutton in Surrey, who works with very sick youngsters whose chemotherapy treatment often means they don’t want to eat anything.
And completing the quartet was 37-year-old Nicola Abraham, a Barnardo’s mentor from Cardiff who works with sexually abused youngsters.
We didn’t think it was fair that only humans should get Children’s Champions trophies—so we had a miniature one specially made in solid silver for Leo’s dog collar.
But Leo found our shiny black stage a bit too slippery for his liking, so he promptly plonked himself down and let Britain’s Got Talent favourite Amanda Holden come to him with his award tied to a red ribbon.
Amanda said: “This year there have been so many great nominations that we just couldn’t ignore these four.”
Our winners and their partners, the parents of the winner of our Children's Award, and those who nominated our winners were invited to London for the time of their lives.
And the higlight of the early part of the day was a visit to 10 Downing Street to be presented with a framed certificate, specially signed by the PM.
Besides a signed certificate - and, of course, the prize money - each winner also carried off a sensational cut glass trophy that is a true collectors' piece.
But the visit to Number 10 wasn't the only highlight.
This extraordinary day was capped off with our gala dinner where our Children's Champions mixed with loads of celebs.
It was a day filled with honours reserved only for the very best.
But there was more! The following morning our guests got a VIP ride on the British Airways London Eye to see the city's famous landmarks from an unrivalled perspective.
And the children in our party visited the astonishing London Aquarium where theyl got to do something that no other visitor is allowed to do...feed the sharks.
It was an awesome experience at one of the capital's great attactions.
WHERE THEY STAYED
Our guests spent the night at The London Marriott Hotel, County Hall.
This is truly one of the world's great hotels - a st
unning venue with some of the best views in the capital.
It gazes majestically over the Thames, the London Eye and Parliament. This is where our judges also gathered to make their final decisions on our Children's Champions winners.
It's also where many celebrities stay while they're in London - you might even catch Dame Kelly Holmes working out in the huge gym.
AT No.10: County
Hall general manager Stuart Bowery with Children's Champions
judge Dame Kelly Holmes.
Here our winners were treated royally.
The hotel's general manager, Stuart Bowery, told the News of the World: 'I'm delighted to have been involved with Children's Champions from the start.
"All the winners have stayed here since 2003. This building has been at the heart of London life and politics for over a century and we've been host to some great names and huge events.
"But it's wonderful and, I'm bound to say, extremely humbling, to hear the stories of Children's Champions winners.
"These are the real celebrities and they deserve our red-carpet treatment.''
LONDON PRIDE: Glorious
views over Thames from County Hall
The British Airways London Eye supports Children's Champions by offering a VIP trip on the wheel on the day of the prizegiving for all the winners and their friends and family.
HEIGHT OF FUN: The
astonishing Eye towering over the capital
While the London Aquarium is open during its renovations, it will be relaunched in April as the Sea Life London Aquarium following a multi-million pound revamp.
Guests were taken on an 'immersive journey' along the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt meeting thousands of marine creatures from every part of the world in themed settings.
There was plenty of interaction along the way plus a stunning glass tunnel walkway encased in a gigantic whale skeleton.
Finally, they stood on a glass diving bell platform floating in the Pacific shark display.
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