Nominations closed on Friday 21^st October and we received hundreds and hundreds of nominations, for over 200 wonderful children and young people. The stories this year have blown us away and the judges had an incredibly difficult task judging the shortlisted finalists and picking just one winner!

All of the 2023 winners have now been chosen and contacted, and full preparations are underway for telling their stories – we can’t wait to share them with you in March.

We’re delighted to now be sharing the stories of some of our shortlisted nominees over the coming weeks, make sure you stay tuned to see their remarkable achievements.

Meet Eden Lewis, Child of Courage

16-year-old Eden was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and lung metastases in 2020. She has had a 13cm tumour removed from her thigh, two thoracotomies to remove metastatses from her lungs and in January this year a new tumour was discovered in her right foot. Despite two rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer was still growing and on March 3rd this year, she was told the devastating news that her cancer was terminal. She was given just months to live.

Despite this news, Eden has continued living as though she doesn't have cancer. She sat her GCSE's, gaining 5 B's & 5 C's and has since started College studying Animal Care.

An animal lover, Eden had dreamed of working as a police dog handler or in the mounted police, and in July she was visited by Gwent Police's dog squad and given a police escort to her prom. On the back of her prom dress was a little tribute to those she had met at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, a ribbon with rainbow beads. This represented the rainbow ward, and those who had lost their battle and didn't get to go to their prom.

Despite knowing that her life is very short, she's determined to carry on and do as much as she possibly can. She lives each day as normal as possible, despite this awful disease slowly taking her away from her loved ones.

She is a truly remarkable young person!