St Helens College Academic Achievement Award - winner: Luke Hughes (From St Helens Star)

St Helens College Academic Achievement Award - winner: Luke Hughes

11:00am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News

AFTER an arduous few years that would have tested any young man, Luke Hughes was overjoyed to win a prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Luke, 20 has been fighting the condition Cholesteatoma, a type of growth situated between his left ear and the brain.

In the past three years he has had four major operations to trim and remove the growth, leaving him deaf in his left ear and suffering from eye problems and nerve damage.

But he stuck to his task in the classroom and is now studying a degree in cricket coaching and management at the University of Central Lancashire.

He beamed: “It’s unbelievable. I can’t put into words what this means. To go through what I’m going through, being nominated was brilliant.

“I have a condition you can’t see, but have to get along with day to day. What keeps me going is support from family and friends.

“I had an operation booked for last weekend, but I cancelled it to the 30th. But it has definitely been worth it.”

Julia Callaghan from St Helens College added: “It made sense for us to sponsor the Academic Achievement award.

“ It’s about putting pride back into St Helens. It’s an amazing event. This is what the college is about; raising aspirations and making people believe in themselves.

“You can achieve great things. Young people in the town have a lot to celebrate.”

Rebecca, an eight-year-old pupil at Longton Lane Primary School, Rainhill, was born with Crouzon Syndrome, which led to her having to wear a large metal frame on her face, was highly commended.

So too was Jessica Southward, (18), from Sutton, who is studying to become a doctor after recording superb A–level results at Carmel College.