2025 WellChild Award Nominations

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Six-year-old Noah from Grimsby is a truly remarkable child who, despite battling numerous complex medical conditions, radiates joy and love. Born prematurely at just 27 weeks and weighing just two pounds, Noah has been in theatre 28 times, including 14 life-saving procedures, and has spent much of his young life in hospital. Noah has cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, short bowel disease, and other serious health issues that cause him chronic pain and require constant medical care. Yet, through it all, Noah remains cheerful, frequently smiling and giggling, and never complaining, even when spending his Christmases and birthdays in hospital. His bravery has been recognised with over 30 certificates. Through his own challenges, Noah is always incredibly loving and compassionate. He regularly expresses his love for his family and the medical staff who care for him, and he has started fundraising to support the charities and hospitals that help him. He has participated in sponsored activities, donated gifts, and is currently organising a wish list to provide presents for other children in the hospital. Noah enjoys playing in the garden, reading with his mum, and spending time with his favourite toys, especially his giraffes and elephants. His courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit make all who know him incredibly proud. 

From an early age, 10-year-old Scarlett from Basingstoke has faced daily challenges due to medical conditions that affect her mobility, leave her extremely fatigued, and often cause severe pain. Scarlett, who has a serious brain malformation and extensive spinal syrinx, nearly lost her life as a baby. Since then, she has undergone two major brain surgeries and spent many months in hospital. She continues to need help with most aspects of daily life, with the simplest of tasks taking her a long time. Through her daily struggles, Scarlett remains brave and cheerful.  Rather than feeling sorry for herself, Scarlett saves her own bravery stickers for other children in hospital, reads to them, and, along with her sister, Sienna, saves up her pocket money to buy new toys for hospital wards. Wanting to inspire other children facing difficulties, she is also involved in the ‘Scarlett Smiles,’ charity campaign which supports children dealing with various challenges. Having been bullied herself for using a wheelchair, Scarlett also campaigns to promote kindness, a quality she possesses in abundance. Talented and creative, Scarlett dreams of becoming a children’s author and spends much of her time immersed in books and producing her own creative writing. She is described as a constant ray of sunshine, who deserves to have a smile on her face for all the joy she has brought to other children. 

Lewis Connett, an 11-year-old from Halifax, is a true inspiration, living with Apert Syndrome, a condition which affects the bones in his head, hands, and feet. Lewis has undergone nearly 20 surgeries, including a challenging procedure this year to fit a frame to his skull. Despite these hardships and extended hospital stays, Lewis remains determined to get the most from life. A passionate sports fan, Lewis loves cricket and will play whenever he gets the chance. Following surgery on his hand, he taught himself to bat one-handed so he could continue playing cricket with his friends. When he’s not watching or playing cricket, Lewis can be found supporting his beloved Bradford City Football Club. Lewis has had to miss a lot of school and social events because of his condition, extended hospital stays and lengthy recovery times.  However, his resilience is also evident in his commitment to school, making it to his end-of-year prom undeterred by his health challenges. Lewis is also dedicated to giving back, having raised more than £80,000 for hospital charities and a national support group. His next goal is to climb Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) after recovering from double foot surgery, demonstrating his incredible determination. Described as funny, kind, and the life of the party, Lewis lights up every room he enters. His bravery, positive attitude, and unwavering spirit make him a true star.  

14-year-old Jude Allen from Portsmouth has spent much of his life in and out of hospital due to chronic conditions that affect the nerves and muscles of his bowels. He has undergone more than 100 surgeries, including two life-saving transplants to enable him to do without medical devices such as feeding tubes or intravenous lines. Despite recent surgery increasing his risk of life-threatening complications and leaving him in need of daily nursing care during a lengthy recovery, Jude remains undaunted. He never shows self-pity,  and always reassures  his nurses and his mother that he is fine, even when facing invasive and often painful medical procedures. Family is central to Jude’s life, and he loves nothing more than playing darts with his older brothers. He also channels his energy into enjoying his passions of football and musicals and is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of organ donations. Jude’s courage and determination are evident as he refuses to let anything stand in his way, always finding ways to join in with his friends. Even though Jude has to carry a backpack to administer intravenous fluids;  managing three stomas and plummeting blood sugars, Jude continues to campaign, play football with his friends, and sing at the top of his voice.  Known to friends and medical professionals as ‘Jude the Dude’, he is described as inspirational, kind, loving, and brave.

16-year-old, George Shippey from Billericay has several complex medical conditions, including muscular dystrophy and scoliosis. From an early age, George has faced daily challenges as his conditions affect his mobility and require an adapted diet, as well as frequent hospital appointments. He copes admirably, embracing his daily regime of medication, physiotherapy and weekly hydrotherapy with bravery and determination. Always intent on living life to the fullest, George, who become a full-time power wheelchair user at the age of 12, has embraced his circumstances and developed a passion for powerchair football. He travels weekly to Kent to train with his team, pursuing his ambition of playing for England one day.   George is also a dedicated advocate for changing perceptions of disability and making the world more inclusive. As an active member of the Essex multi-school council, he shares his own experiences and suggests ways to adapt sports to make them more accessible to everyone. His kindness is evident in everything he does, as shown recently at his school when he supported a new student who also has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. George regularly reassured him and encouraged him to join the powerchair football club. Described as a true warrior, George is an inspiration to all who know him.

Aged 12, Anya from Matlock, Derbyshire, is a tremendous support to her mum in caring for her 15-year-old brother Edward, who was born with a chromosomal disorder, is developmentally delayed and severely short-sighted.  Always on the move, Edward has little understanding of danger, so 12-year-old Anya steps up to help by entertaining him or holding his hand when they are out and about. The siblings have enjoyed spending time together in the accessible garden created for them by WellChild and now love helping with the farm animals at their new home. When the family attends inclusive outings organised by WellChild, Anya is always by her mum’s side, helping with Edward.  Even though her Mum is often having to prioritise Edward’s needs, Anya embraces her role without complaint, even when it means missing out on activities that other children enjoy. As well as being her mother’s ‘second-in-command’, Anya still finds time for her favourite hobbies, such as basketball and playing tenor horn in a brass band. With empathy beyond her years, Anya understands what it feels like to be left out. Having grown up around children with Special Educational Needs, she accepts everyone for who they are and is eager to ensure everyone feels included. The support she provides to her mum, along with her kindness, patience and compassion for her brother makes her a linchpin in her family. 

Jody Brocklebank, a 16-year-old from Sheffield, plays a vital role in caring for her two disabled siblings and supporting her mother, who also has a disability. Her siblings require round-the-clock care for their complex needs and Jody assists with everything from managing feeding pumps to supporting physiotherapy. Jody also helps her mother by handling a lot of the heavy lifting and deliveries of the never-ending medical supplies, stock checking and putting everything away. She loves playing with her siblings and shopping with her mother and is key to keeping spirits high within the family. Jody is known for her kindness and her desire to helps others. She even decided to learn basic life support in order to help her family. Jody never complains and willingly sacrifices her own time with friends. In addition to her responsibilities at home,  Jody finds time and energy to volunteer at a local animal sanctuary every weekend, where she enjoys riding horses, and hopes to pursue a career in conservation. Although her life is very busy, Jody has recently completed her GCSEs and is fundraising for a charity trip to Kenya to support local communities there. Jody’s family are deeply proud of her selflessness and dedication and thrilled that she is receiving well-deserved recognition for her incredible contributions to their family and beyond.

Angie Turner from Shanklin has campaigned tirelessly to improve care for children like her daughter, Chelsea, who sadly lost her battle with complex medical conditions last year at the age of 11. Throughout Chelsea Turner’s short life, she faced numerous challenges, living with conditions such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and chronic problems with her breathing, digestion, and mobility. By her side through it all, she had the unwavering influence and loving care of her mother, Angela, who dedicated herself to making every day the best it could be for Chelsea and others with similar conditions. While caring for Chelsea, who was often in intensive care on the mainland, and raising her three other children, Angela quietly fought to change attitudes and fundraised to provide vital support, such as a hoist and washing facilities in a local children’s ward. Shortly after Angela and Chelsea’s father, Matthew, lost their daughter, they chose to divert money originally raised for a sensory room at home for Chelsea, instead using it to purchase a portable sensory station for a local primary school. Inspired by her love for Chelsea, Angela continues her relentless pursuit of improvements in her daughter’s memory. Her efforts to streamline medical care between the Isle of Wight and the mainland and to ensure consistency in feeding equipment and training for respite staff, are closing critical gaps in care and making services more effective.  

Rhian Greenslade, from Cardiff, is the WellChild Discharge Liaison Nurse for Children with Complex Health Needs at the Children’s Hospital for Wales, having dedicated over 30 years to nursing. Rhian plays a crucial role in helping children with complex medical needs transition from hospital to home, providing unwavering support and guidance to families across six health boards. She is highly regarded by both her colleagues and the families she assists, often described as a “calming influence,” “guardian angel,” and “rock.” It is Rhian’s tireless efforts, always marked by kindness and compassion, that have earned her the admiration and gratitude of countless families. Her colleagues frequently express their need for “another Rhian,” recognising her as a true role model. As one of the longest-serving WellChild Nurses, with more than 15 years in her current role, Rhian has made an immeasurable impact on the lives of thousands of children and their families. Beyond her day to day nursing duties, she is a passionate advocate for WellChild, actively supporting campaigns and fundraising activities. Outside of work, Rhian enjoys music, walking, running, yoga, and holidaying with her husband, family, and their dog, Harvey. Her longstanding dedication to the WellChild vision—to see every child with complex medical needs thriving at home—makes her a deserving recipient of this recognition. 

Simon Bell, an NHS referral dentist from Poole, consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that visits to the dentist are as positive as possible for children with complex medical needs. Simon is known for listening to parents and carers, and communicating clearly about planned treatments.  He was nominated by the parent of a non-verbal child whose condition led to him needing extensive dental work to relieve pain and improve his quality of life. Despite the challenging and lengthy nature of the treatment, Simon made a point of learning the names and relationships of everyone involved and always took the time to thoroughly explain each step of the procedure before progressing. His reassurance through eye contact and personalised signs, brought immense comfort to the child, even making him laugh after a tooth extraction – something rarely witnessed in far less stressful circumstances.  What sets Simon apart is his professionalism, empathy and unwavering commitment to ensuring his patients feel included and comfortable during their dental appointments. He takes extra steps to minimise risks by liaising with specialist hospitals and addressing underlying issues such as pain. His dedication to making both patients and their families feel supported is greatly appreciated and highlights that, as well as being a skilled professional, he cares deeply for those he treats. 

Andrew Gould, a Finance Director from Wimbledon, has made a profound difference to the lives of children and families supported by WellChild  over many years. In March 2024 he embarked on an ultra-challenging 3,200km cycling tour around the United Kingdom. The “Tour of Appreciation” was undertaken in support of WellChild, with the aim of honouring the 53 dedicated WellChild Nurses working in over 40 hospitals across the UK with children battling complex medical conditions. In a remarkable demonstration of gratitude and determination, Andrew raised over £33,000 for WellChild with this incredible challenge. His unwavering commitment, fuelled by the resilience and smiles of the children he met, inspired countless supporters and shone a spotlight on the critical role WellChild Nurses play in the lives of children with complex medical needs and their families.  This latest achievement follows a series of remarkable challenges Andrew, a keen sportsman, has undertaken on behalf of WellChild in recent years. These include the London Marathon and the formidable Marathon Des Sables, where he ran six marathons in a week through the Sahara Desert. With the Tour of Appreciation, added to his list of achievements and completed in the face of torrential rain, strong winds and the unpredictable temperatures found in British weather, the grand total Andrew has raised for WellChild over his years of support, now stands at almost £50,000.

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