S Poddar
Well-wishers all over the concourse wished Prince Harry well as he made his way on Tuesday into the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The spirit could not have been brighter among the brave and inspirational youngsters he was to spend his time with.
For his first time in the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, as a part of his WellChild visit, Prince Harry met the families from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who had overcome amazing challenges.
The patron of WellChild, for more than 16 years, has inspired the plus 100,000 children and young people helped by the charity. At this emotionally charged award ceremony, Harry met several of the winners. And among them were 10-year-old Scarlett from Basingstoke, 14-year-old Jude from Portsmouth, and Angela Turner from Shanklin. Every one of these youngsters has shown incredible courage.
Speaking to the gathering, Prince Harry referred to the children as “little legends,” underlining the extraordinary resilience they have shown. He thanked the young awardees for “being you and uplifting all those around you.” He took time out to acknowledge the parents in the audience and commended them for their unwavering dedication: “The level of round-the-clock care that you offer, the skills you’ve had to learn, and the battles for support that you fight every single day – I am truly in awe.”
Another of the inspirational children who features top in the list is Scarlett who was nominated by her mother, Aby. Scarlett suffers from a brain malformation and an extreme spinal condition that torments her with pains and muscle weakness yet she still finds happiness uplifting people’s spirits. She’s so heroic that even in the hospital, she distributes bravery stickers among her fellow young patients. She has even teamed up with local charities and politicians to promote the “Be Kind” campaign for victims of bullying. She also started “Scarlett’s Smiles” with Spotlight UK to help children suffering from similar challenges. Her mum describes her as “my constant ray of sunshine,” adding, “She never asks for anything for herself and, despite her daily battles, she is endlessly brave, always surprising others with her kindness and generous nature.”
Another inspirational young recipient was Jude, nominated for the Inspirational Young Person award by his nurse, Sarah Challeway. Much of Jude’s life has been spent in hospitals because he’s been suffering with chronic conditions that impair the function of muscles within his bowel. He had several surgeries, two lifesaving transplants that allowed him to eat and drink for the first time without medical assistance. Ms. Challeway, who has cared for Jude since he was an infant said this about her feelings relating to his spirit: “Jude is the most accepting, loving, brave, and determined little dude I have ever known in 30 years of nursing. He is just so inspirational and kind and deserves to know that everyone thinks this about him.”
Angela Turner, who was also awarded with the Parent Carer award, has supported the cause for better care of children with complex health issues inspired by her daughter Chelsea, who died at the age of 11 in July 2023 because of the conditions such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Her efforts to create an environment for the kids like Chelsea paved the way for nominations from her sister Lisa Whitaker. Ms Whitaker praises Angela’s “exhausting” work, which also includes helping to lead a campaign to implement hoist and washing facilities at the children’s ward at St. Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight. “She really deserves this recognition for everything that’s been done through love of Chelsea which has made such a difference for herself and to countless children on the island,” she said.
These awards reminded the children themselves, too, of the strength and resilience both of them and their families demonstrated. The presence and heart-moving words of Prince Harry also paid tribute to their journeys and raised a toast to the children’s unwavering courage in the face of dramatic health challenges. The summit was the climax of a process, and at its close, it was quite obvious that the stories of Scarlett, Jude, and Angela would truly inspire many people to continue to fight for the rights of children with serious health needs across the UK and far beyond.
