Jack Marshall receives his Young Personality of the Year Award from Simon Mackaness of Rudding Park and Awards Chairman, Peter McCormick OBE
A record audience were there to see Yorkshire’s Young Achievers of 2014 revealed last night (20 November) at an Awards ceremony at Leeds United’s Centenary Pavilion.
Personality of the Year, presented by the Simon Mackaness of Rudding Park, went to a 16-year-old Doncaster boy, Jack Marshall, who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity, despite his own severe disabilities, while there were also awards for Emmerdale actors Verity Rushworth, Amelia Flanagan and Kelvin Fletcher and Premier League footballer James Milner.
The Awards, sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors, mark the achievements of people aged 35 and under in seven categories, from the Arts to Management and Enterprise, and are organised by the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation. The Foundation was established to support young people in Yorkshire and the Awards and other fundraising initiatives have now raised more than £1m.
Peter McCormick said: “Our 22nd year proved another night to remember. The Awards are a celebration of all that is good about young people in Yorkshire and we had some tremendous examples in our winners.
“I must also underline that none of this would be possible without the unstinting support of our sponsors and from guests at the Awards.”
A Special Award to mark his contribution was made to previous winner Kelvin Fletcher who has supported the event ever since he took the Achievement in the Arts Award in 2001.
The full line up of winners was:
Personality of the Year, sponsored by Rudding Park
Jack Marshall, 16, of Doncaster.Jack has Moebius Syndrome, a rare condition which affects his life in many ways. He is blind in one eye and has reduced hearing; his condition drastically affects his co-ordination and balance and his legs are severely disabled. He has undergone numerous operations on his legs, eyes, ears and mouth.
Despite the fact that he is at school and college full time, he has raised tens of thousands of pounds for other people, including Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
He did his first sponsored walk across the Humber Bridge seven years ago and since then has taken part in runs as far afield as Ethiopia and in the last year alone, he has done three runs, climbed Snowdon and is well on his way to planning a parachute jump.
He is now setting up an advocacy service for young people with disabilities aged from 16 to 25.
Jack this year was named Radio 1’s Stephen Sutton Teen Award winner.
Youngster of the Year, sponsored by DFS Furniture Company
Harry Phillips, aged nine, of MethleyFighting leukaemia is a tough challenge for any nine-year-old but Harry Phillips has been used the experience to bring cheer to other youngsters.
Harry was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2012. He spent months and months in Leeds General Infirmary and has inspired more than £45,000 worth of fundraising for Candlelighters, the Yorkshire charity for children with cancer.
He used his time on the Candlelighters ward to teach himself magic and has spent his time there entertaining children and parents on the ward, developing great skill.
Despite his illness, he recently won a place at Merlins Magic Academy to hone his skills yet further.
He has also taken party in a new charity initiative, the “Runsie”, where competitors run in a onesie, to raise money for Candlelighters. Harry had to be pushed round in his wheelchair but was the star of the day.
Achievement in the Arts, sponsored by the Yorkshire Evening Post
Verity Rushworth and Amelia Flanagan.The Achievement in the Arts Award was shared between two Emmerdale actresses, Verity Rushworth and six-year-old Amelia Flanagan, who played mother and daughter Donna and April Windsor in a strong storyline for the soap this summer.
Verity, 29, grew up in Rawdon and Adel and attended St Mary’s School in Menston, Intake High at Bramley, and then SLP College in Garforth.
She appeared in Emmerdale from 1998 to 2008 and then returned this year for a dramatic storyline which kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
She has also starred in Hairspray, The Sound of Music, taking over the lead role from Connie Fisher, and Annie.
Her on-screen daughter Amelia comes from Calderdale and Emmerdale is her first acting job.
She recently won Best Young Actor at the recent Inside Soap awards.
Achievement in Management and Enterprise, sponsored by The Wetherby Whaler Group
Andrew Hudson, 28, of Leeds. Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of a Leeds-based business, G&H Sustainability, specialising in sustainable and low carbon solutions for construction projects in the commercial, industrial and education sectors.
After leaving Leeds Building College with diplomas in engineering, Andrew graduated with a degree in Building Services Engineering from Northumbria University in 2010. A year later he approached G&H Building Services with the idea of setting up a separate sustainability division which would specialise in low carbon building services installations, such as solar thermal, wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and biomass heating systems.
In 2012 he won a place on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme of special education and business support.
He is the Yorkshire Region Chairman of the Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers Young Engineers and this year has gained a Masters degree, studying hard alongside his day-to-day work and his role with as regional chairman.
Achievement in Sport, sponsored by Leeds United Football Club
James Milner, 28, of Leeds.James Milner is a midfielder for Manchester City and was part of the England World Cup squad in both 2010 and this year.
He was born in Leeds and his talent for sport was recognised at a very young age. He was signed by the Leeds United Academy at the age of ten, making his full debut for the club in 2002 at the age of just 16. Just a month later he became the youngest player to score in the Premier League, scoring in Leeds’ 2-1 win against Sunderland.
James went on to play for both Newcastle United and Aston Villa and in 2010 was named PFA Young Player of the Year and featured in the PFA Team of the Year. That summer, his talent and consistency on the pitch earned him a move to Manchester City where his career has continued to go from strength to strength. He has won the Premier League twice, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup and the Community Shield.
In addition to winning every domestic honour available to him, James has shone on the international stage playing for England at Under 15, Under 17, Under 20 and Under 21 level. He earned his 50th England Cap this year.
Achievement in Education, sponsored by Positive Tax Solutions
Charlotte Newman, 24, of Leeds.Charlotte Newman was studying law at Leeds University when she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue around her abdomen.
She had to put her studies on hold while she underwent grueling surgery, intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She also needed a stem cell transplant as the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, followed by more than 30 more sessions of radiotherapy.
Despite having had to put her third year of degree studies on hold for two years while she battled her illness, she returned to her studies and achieved a first-clas
s law degree. She started her first job as a trainee solicitor last month.
During Charlotte’s illness, her sister, Emma, ran a marathon to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Trust made contact and asked Charlotte to become its “Face of 2013” and she appeared on posters all over the country.
She was asked to speak at the Royal Albert Hall for seven nights running, with a video with Noel Gallagher telling her story. Since then Charlotte has given talks at many charity events and in schools; talked to businesses about how their sponsorship money is spent; given numerous radio interviews and presented trophies at the Children of Courage awards.
Unsung Hero, sponsored by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions
Jessica Hartley, 22, of Batley.When Jessica was 19 her mum, Carol, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Jess was working as an administrator for a law firm in Leeds but as her mum’s illness became debilitating, she made the decision to put her career on hold and become a full-time carer.
Over the next ten months, Jess and Carol were able to spend time together, visiting places neither of them had been before. In July 2012, Jess rang Cancer Research’s Race for Life for the first time and her mum was at the finishing line cheering her on.
Carol’s health deteriorated and she died in October 2012. Jess ran the Race for Life again the following year, in memory of her mum, and again this year when she was asked to tell her story to the crowds of runners at Temple Newsam before performing the official start of the Race.
Her step-mother, Joanne Hartley, said: “Youngsters like Jessica are our unsung heroes because they have the courage and strength to step up to the mark when called upon to do so and, by doing so, they inspire us all. Throughout a very difficult time, Jessica did just that and we are intensely proud of her.”
Jess has now launched her own business, Simple Bella by Jessica, as a mobile beautician.
Special Award, sponsored by Walsh Taylor
Kelvin Fletcher, Emmerdale star.A special Award was made to actor Kelvin Fletcher, who has played Andy Sugden in Emmerdale since 1996.
Kelvin’s first connection with the Awards came in 2001 when he won the Achievement in the Arts Award and he has supported the event ever since, playing an active role in the annual launches at ITV Yorkshire and often presenting the Youngster of the Year Award.
Awards Chairman Peter McCormick said: “Kelvin has helped to make the Awards a particularly special occasion for many of our young winners who have been very excited to meet him and this Award underlines our thanks for his great support over the years.”