Solar King Pride of St Helens Awards (From St Helens Star)

Solar King Pride of St Helens Awards: Boc boc Courage Award:

11:00am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

Boc boc Courage Award:

The nominees are:

Peter Donnelly Peter from Wolseley Road, Cowley Hill was paralysed from the waist down in a motorbike accident in his late teens. But since then, he has thrown himself into one incredible challenge after another to prove to himself, and others, that life goes on and that disability is not a barrier. Bungee jumps, water skiing and other outdoor pursuits were just the start. He arrived in New Jersey in 2009 with just his wheelchair and insisted that Camp America should take him on. Next he worked in Bangladesh with Voluntary Service Overseas and discovered the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). A few months later Peter (25) went on an epic voyage through 15 largely wheelchair-unfriendly countries across two continents.

Billy Jarvis

The immense courage shown by little Billy Jarvis (5) in his fight with leukaemia has amazed his loved ones. Billy, from Thatto Heath, has fought acute lymphoblastic leukaemia since diagnosis in January 2009, when he was aged two and a half. Parents Claire, 32, and Ian, 36, have watched him endure punishing treatment, pain, difficulties getting about, hair loss and mood swings. But it has not stopped him trying to enjoy the life of an ordinary little boy and he has never been shy of going to St Ann’s Primary School in Rainhill and getting stuck into a challenge.

Andy Reid

In 2009, Corporal Andy Reid, originally from Thatto Heath, became one of the most seriously injured troops to survive the war in Afghanistan. After stepping on an IED he lost both his lower legs and his right arm. But he has since shown remarkable courage in the face of adversity – rising to the many challenges he has set himself. These include a tandem skydive, going down on bended knee to propose and then walking down the aisle at his wedding to marry Claire, and running in the St Helens 10K. The nomination for Andy, who is aged 36 and lives in Windle, remarked on his strength of character and his refusal to utter a word of complaint.