THREE-year-old Jake Cathcart is set to become one of the youngest ever recipients of the British Citizen Youth Award this week, after inspiring a group of parents to save the lives of 76 children abroad.
Jake was born with a high, irregular heart rate, suffered two cardiac arrests and a respiratory arrest, but is now doing well thanks to the work of dedicated surgeons at both Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street.
He has been fitted with a pacemaker.
One of his surgeons Dr Ramana Dhannapuneni not only saves children close to home but is also involved with a charity called Healing Little Hearts, which provide free heart surgery to babies and children in countries where there is no NHS or free health care system.
Inspired by her son’s courage, Jake’s mum Claire Cathcart founded the group Team 1C, including other parents whose children have received care at Alder Hey’s cardiac ward.
Together they have hosted events and a ball to send Dr Ram abroad to help 76 children others in need of health care.
For being such an inspiration, Jake will be given the special medal this week at a star-studded event at Westminster by The Rt. Hon. Lord Dholakia, alongside Ashley Banjo from Diversity compering the event.
Claire, 38, said: “Jake was the reason I got involved in all of this and he has been so strong all the way through, taking part in any suitable event and being such a happy boy.
”He’s only three and he now will have four letters behind his name which is crazy but he truly deserves this and we are so proud of him.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here