A remarkable Chester dad has been honoured for his role in launching a national campaign highlighting the reality of life for those with a seriously ill child.
Steve Jones was invited to the 2016 Wellchild Awards in London on Monday (October 3) along with seven others who set up the award-winning #NOTANURSE_BUT campaign last year.
WellChild, which has Prince Harry as its patron, is the national charity for seriously ill children and is committed to improving their quality of life.
Leanne Cooper, Jillian Evans, Craig Hatch, Emma Sagrott, Hayley Smallman, Sian Taylor, Faith Tutton and Steve Jones, who launched the #NOTANURSE_BUT campaign, are among the thousands of parents and other family members in the UK who provide a high level of care at home to children and young people with serious health needs and illnesses.
Steve’s 23-year-old daughter Hannah has complex, enduring health problems as a result of aggressive treatment used to tackle brain cancer she suffered as a teenager.
Hannah suffered a stroke as a result of her health problems and requires medication for epilepsy, injects herself on a daily basis to combat a non-functioning pituitary gland and has many continuing problems with her mobility and memory.
The campaign which highlights the reality of life for families, like their own, whose contribution to providing medical care often goes unrecognised, was picked up by WellChild for the special recognition award by its Head of Family Services, Hannah Bemand.
Hannah said: “Without these parents spearheading this campaign and being brave enough to share what happens behind the closed doors of their homes, this campaign wouldn’t have been as successful as it has been, or possibly even have come about at all.
“In partnership with these amazing parents WellChild continues to develop new ideas to keep the voice of the child and family at the heart of decision making in the future.”
An esteemed panel of judges, which consists of leading health professionals and children and young people who face serious illness themselves, chose this year’s winner.
WellChild’s director of programmes and member of the panel, Linda Partridge, said: “It is a tremendous challenge to select winners from the many, many truly amazing nominations we receive from all over the country.
“All the panel members are moved by the bravery of the children, the stories of selfless care and support and the dedication of the doctors, nurses, teachers, brothers and sisters who make a great difference to the lives of seriously ill children and young people.
“These parents truly deserve to be the winner of this award.
“The awards are a perfect demonstration of WellChild’s commitment to helping as many seriously ill children and their families as we can and embody our aim of raising awareness of their needs.”
Steve and the other seven campaign members met a host of WellChild celebrity supporters, including Prince Harry, Sir Rod Stewart with his son Alastair, Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely from Diversity, Olympic swimming legend, Mark Foster and Ollie Locke and Spencer Matthews from Made in Chelsea, who attend each year to celebrate the courage of brave children and honour the dedicated work of the country’s health professionals.
Speaking at the 2015 WellChild Awards ceremony, Prince Harry said: “The stories we have heard tonight are moving beyond words.
“They remind us of the utter insignificance of our everyday worries.
“Yet, one of the things that always stands out is the positivity shown by those in the most difficult and testing circumstances.
“It is heartening to hear so many stories of happiness and hope, even through the dark times.”
