Kieran Hankin
A Staffordshire teenager has raised thousands of pounds for charity by doing physical challenges despite suffering from a number of life-limiting conditions.
Kieran Hankin, from Upper Tean, is known as K-Man to friends and family – and for good reason. Despite being diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) in 2017, and later Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Scoliosis and Pes Cavus, he is constantly looking to raise money for causes close to his heart, including the Dougie Mac, whose team nominated him.
The 14-year-old can no longer walk and relies on his electric wheelchair. He suffers from debilitating fatigue and is tired every day but keeps battling through the exhaustion.
His mum, Leeann Hankin, is immensely proud of her son, who still takes part in fundraising events and continuously goes beyond everyone’s expectations. Even at school Kieran is making tremendous progress towards his GCSEs at Cheadle Academy and often presents inspirational assemblies for peers.
Kieran was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia just before his seventh birthday. The condition is a life-changing, life-limiting, degenerative neuromuscular disease which affects his balance, co-ordination and muscle strength. He also has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy where the muscles of his heart are abnormally thick, which makes it harder for his heart to pump blood around his body contributing to severe fatigue, whilst he was also diagnosed with Pes Cavvus, which has made his feet turn inwards and led to his loss of mobility.
Kieran has undergone major surgeries to his spine, which in his mum’s words, “Have made Kieran dig so deep, both physically and mentally. Yet after his last bout of major surgery he was back in school within a month. He really is not just hugely brave – he’s also an inspiration to me and others.”
Kieran has taken on numerous physical challenges in the past five years and has raised funds for the likes of The Dougie Mac Hospice, Make A Wish, Children In Need and Macmillan Cancer Support. The challenges have seen Kieran take to the trike and the water to push himself to the very limit.
It’s in the swimming pool where Leeann says Kieran finds real freedom and in his last challenge in July, he was due to swim one to two kilometres for the Dougie Mac’s Big Swim event but smashed that and completed nine kilometres over 10 sessions, raising more than £3,500 for charity.
Kieran started attending the Dougie Mac’s Children’s Services in 2019 and it has had a huge effect on his and his mum’s lives. Leeann says she initially felt “a little dubious and quite anxious” about it, but has seen first-hand “the love, warmth and care emanating from every person inside.”
Covid and lockdown were soon to hit the UK, and although Leeann and Kieran couldn’t visit the hospice, they continued to receive care and support through virtual channels. The support and care from The Dougie Mac didn’t just benefit Kieran.
Leeann said: “I’ve also received fantastic support, too. The whole staff have been amazing invaluable sources of support and information. There is so much warmth about the place – we are so lucky in Staffordshire to have this amazing charity on our doorsteps. I can’t tell you how much they have done for us.
“We have gone through so much and recently through multiple challenging surgeries for Kieran who will continue to face challenge after challenge. But he is an unbelievable boy.
“Kieran has raised thousands for charity, and we are hoping that he can get a new trike that matches his needs soon, so he can continue to give.”
Kieran Hankin has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Katie and Charlie Gallimore
Teenagers Katie and Charlie Gallimore have been young carers for their mum, who has multiple sclerosis, since they were at primary school.
The siblings, now aged 16 and 13, help with housework, prepare meals and Katie helps their mum with personal care such as helping her to get dressed.
Katie and Charlie, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, have been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards by Jess Graham, Young Carers Wellness Worker at North Staffs Carers.
Their mum, Dawn Gallimore, said: “It was around 11 years ago, when Katie was aged about five years, when she first started being a carer. I had a really bad shoulder problem which meant I couldn’t move my neck and arms properly so she started to help me get dressed.
“I couldn’t drive or walk her to school so her nana would come in the mornings to take her to school and her dad would make sure he was home to pick her up. She was about six years old when she first went to Young Carers.
“Katie now makes meals for her and her brother at night times. She’s at catering college in Stafford, comes home and cooks.”
Dawn added: “I’m very proud of them both. I couldn’t ask for more from them. They do more than their peers are doing at home and we do try to rewards them for things.”
Joelle Anyafufu
Joelle Anyafufu is just seven years old but is already a carer for her mum, who has a physical disability.
She provides emotional support for her mum, who is often in a lot of pain, and helps around their Stoke-on-Trent home.
Joelle makes her own snacks, does the washing up, tidies the house and uses a dustpan and brush on the floors because she hasn’t learned how to use a vacuum cleaner yet.
She showers herself with supervision from her mum, Favour Anyafufu, because her mum’s disability means it is difficult to use the bath, and has been carrying shopping home from the age of around three years.
Joelle has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards by Jess Graham, Young Carers Wellness Worker at North Staffs Carers.
Jess said: “Joelle is a very happy, bubbly young lady and is very proud of her caring role.”
Favour said: “She really does help me a lot. I know that if I didn’t have the health challenges I have then I wouldn’t want her to do some of the things she does. That includes things like fixing her own meals – things like sandwiches and toast – then doing the dishes and understanding the importance of cleaning up after making a meal.
“She cleans and tidies the house, knows how to use a dustpan and brush and picks up rubbish.
“I struggle with the bath so she steps into the shower and washes herself while I supervise.”
Favour added: “Sometimes if I can’t do something with her she’ll say ‘mummy, I know if you were well you would have done better’.
“Sometimes it’s like I’m talking with a fellow grown-up in terms of the encouragement she gives me. It’s like I’m receiving counselling from a young child that I should be coaching.”
Skye Hemmings
Skye Hemmings is just nine years old but she is already a carer for both her mum and her older sister.
She helps her mum to get dressed, including taking care of zips and buttons that her mum finds difficult.
The Bentilee schoolgirl brings her mum her medication and understands the importance of safety around this. Skye also supports her older sister who has physical disabilities.
She has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards by Jess Graham, a young carers wellness worker at North Staffs Carers.
Her mum, Sarah Hemmings, said: “Skye is brilliant. She’s here more or less full time with her dad helping to look after me and helping with jobs around the house.
“I can’t get out to do physical things with her so Skye and me have art and things like that we can do together in the house. With me being the way I am, it’s not easy. She helps so much.
“If we go down to her sister’s, she helps her sister as well. When Skye was aged about six her sister wasn’t well and I remember Skye going to find a blanket and a teddy and covering her sister up to help her feel better. She has been caring a lot for a long time now.
“She’s used to being around me and her older sister, and we’re both disabled. It’s what she’s used to but caring is also in her nature.
“Her auntie is also disabled and if we go there Skye will help there too. It’s just Skye being Skye.
“We are all very proud of her and we’re very proud that she’s been able to do things like Scouting, through while she recently gained her Bronze Award. I want her to be able to do those sorts of things as well, to still be able to be a child.
“Her teachers all say that she helps them in the classroom. She’s just one of those kids who wants to help.”
Skye attends Berryhill Scouts, dances and will be taking part in a gang show through Scouting.
Paige Collins
Paige Collins is awaiting an operation for a hole in her heart but that hasn’t stopped her from fundraising, volunteering and doing whatever she can to help others.
The 17-year-old, from Bentilee, has always been driven by a desire to help others which has included raising thousands of pounds and even competing in and winning a white knuckle boxing match.
The Stoke-on-Trent College Level 3 Sport student spends her summer holidays volunteering with Bee Active, a local schools’ physical education provider, helping children with disabilities to take part in activities that might otherwise have been inaccessible to them.
Although Paige had always been physically active, she began experiencing ongoing health problems linked to her heart rate. For years doctors attributed this to anxiety. However, when her fitness watch recorded her heart rate climbing above 200 bpm, she was rushed to A&E. Tests revealed a hole in her heart that would require surgery.
Instead of letting her diagnosis hold her back, Paige showed remarkable resilience. She channelled her experience into strengthening her involvement in college life and becoming a peer mentor, a role that allows students to support fellow learners struggling with stress and anxiety.
Stoke-on-Trent College Mentor Steve Taylor said: “Paige has overcome the challenges of a heart condition to complete her vocational course and progress to a Level 3 Sport course.
“A kind and supportive peer mentor, she is always there to encourage and inspire her fellow learners, both emotionally and academically.”
She teamed up with three fellow students to co-organise the college’s annual Multicultural Day, one of the biggest events in the student calendar.
Working closely with staff, she helped to plan and deliver a celebration of equality and diversity that brought the whole college community together. The event saw hundreds of students attend from across both campuses.
Her commitment to giving back continued through participation in Race for Life at Trentham Gardens in June, helping to raise more than £1,000 for a college staff member that she works closely with.
Although she could not run due to her heart condition, Paige walked the 5km course alongside fellow students and college staff.
Paige regularly volunteers at college open events where she shares what it’s like to be a student and provides guided tours.
She is an advocate for sport courses and college life and is always keen to share her enthusiasm with prospective students.
Earlier this year she joined a student-led Youth Social Action group organised through the Enrichment team and raised £2,200 for local homelessness charities Brighter Futures and The Macari Centre through Stoke City Community Trust’s Big Sleep Out.
Paige’s achievements were formally recognised in June when she was presented with the Aspirational Achiever award at Stoke-on-Trent College’s Celebrating Success recognition evening.
Paige is already planning a heart-awareness fundraiser for early 2026 to support charities such as the British Heart Foundation. The event will also provide students and staff with vital advice and free heart checks.
Mum Sharon Philpott says she couldn’t be prouder of Paige, who attended a special school before enrolling at Stoke-on-Trent College.
She said: “Paige has been bullied but she has just found her way through it. She’s even nice to her bullies and says that two wrongs don’t make a right.
“She’s very caring and always thinking about what she can do for other people and to achieve the best results she can at college. She wants to get distinctions and to have a career in the mental health industry.
“She’s still waiting for her operation, which we’re told could be just after Christmas. In the meantime she just keeps going and going and going.”
Paige Collins has been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards.
James and Holly Keeling
Ten-year-old twins James and Holly Keeling have raised more than £1,000 for charity in memory of their sister Evie.
James, Holly and Evie were born prematurely at 23 weeks and cared for on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. Sadly, Evie passed away shortly after birth.
The duo, known as ‘Jolly’, wanted to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on their milestone tenth birthday and decided to challenge each other to give up chocolate for one week and to complete 10,000 extra steps each day.
Their Mum, Laura, said: “Evie will always be a big part of our family, and it’s important for us to keep her memory alive. Each year we get our family and friends together to celebrate her birthday and this year felt fitting to mark the triplets turning double digits, so we wanted to do something special to mark Evie’s tenth birthday.
“There are not enough ways to say thank you to express our gratitude to the incredible consultants, doctors, nurses and healthcare staff who cared for Evie, James and Holly. They really are superheroes in disguise.
“I’m so proud of James and Holly for achieving such a brilliant amount of money in Evie’s memory. UHNM charity will always be close to our hearts.”
James and Holly said: “We really enjoyed raising money in memory of our sister Evie. It was exciting waking up each morning to see how many donations we had. It was a tough challenge to give up chocolate in the school holidays, but it felt special handing over the cheque to the nurses who cared for us.
“We hope the money helps other families with poorly babies in the hospital. Thank you to everybody who donated.”
The family returned to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to present their cheque to the Neonatal team.
Laura Farnell, NICU Senior Sister, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to James and Holly for this amazing donation. The money that has been donated will help the unit and families so much. It was so lovely to see the family again, and it was such a wonderful thing for them to do, to support the charity.”
James and Holly Keeling have been nominated in the Child of Courage category of the Your Heroes Awards.