Shortlist for Young Fundraiser of the Year (15 years or under)
Libby Atkins, Bone Cancer Research Trust
Libby Atkins is a remarkable 10-year-old who began fundraising from her hospital bed at the age of 8, whilst going through gruelling treatment for Ewing sarcoma, which entailed 14 rounds of chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove her tumour. Libby and her family have set up a special fund in her name: Libby's Journey of Life which has raised over £60,000 in little over a year through a combination of raffles, community events and a fabulous black-tie dinner.
Libby has featured in key awareness campaigns and has inspired thousands of people with her drive to raise funds to help other children in similar situations. Everyone at the Bone Cancer Research Trust is so grateful to Libby and her family for their incredible fundraising efforts. She is an absolute superstar who deserves recognition for her remarkable fundraising.
Harry Byrne / Byrne family, Wessex Children's Hospice Trust - Naomi House and Jacksplace
Harry and the Byrne Family are an incredible family. Harry has demonstrated enormous maturity in dealing with the loss of his siblings and creating powerful and engaging honest fundraising activities to celebrate their lives as a family and the love that he shares for them. In creating his activities, Harry has showed determination, innovation and honest courage to achieve not just one fundraising success, but a series of activities that have raised income and profile of the causes he believes in.
The family have worked hand in hand with teams to support the causes and Harry has developed a community of supporters inspired by his story and the passion and bravery he demonstrates.
Background Bob (AKA Noah Jones), Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity
Background Bob is an extremely inspirational young lad who sadly passed away in November 2023, at the age of 15. In the last 3 years, Bob has raised over £250,000 for the Children’s department at Colchester Hospital. The hospital that cared for him since birth. With a trilogy of books, a series of stellar exhibitions and a smashing online auction meant Background Bob's love of art gave him an army of followers that helped him and the family raise an astonishing £250,000 to fund sensory areas and improvements for many more children like Bob.