Teenager Kieran and Healthcare Worker Lynn WIN Your Heroes Award

A brave teenager and a long-serving Dougie Mac healthcare worker have both scooped major awards at a glittering ceremony.

Kieran Hankin, 14, was a winner in the Child of Courage category in the annual Your Heroes Awards.

The youngster – who has raised thousands of pounds for Dougie Mac to say thank you for the care he has received from the charity – was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia just before his seventh birthday. The condition is a life-changing, life-limiting, degenerative neuromuscular disease which affects his balance, co-ordination and muscle strength.

He also has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy where the muscles of his heart are abnormally thick, which makes it harder for his heart to pump blood around his body contributing to severe fatigue, whilst he was also diagnosed with Pes Cavvus, which has made his feet turn inwards and led to his loss of mobility.

Kieran – who was presented with his award by Oscar-winning actress Rachel Shenton – was named a joint winner alongside two other children.

Healthcare worker Lynn Parkin who has given 38 years’ service to Dougie Mac and is due to retire later this month was named Carer of the Year and was presented with her award by Colonel Tim Sandiford OBE, the last commanding officer of the Staffordshire Regiment.

Lynne and Kieran were recognised alongside super supporter Nathan Walton who has raised more than £400,000 for various charities including Dougie Mac. Nathan was crowned the Charity Champion of the Year.

Winners were presented with a bespoke trophy made by Newcastle-under-Lyme-based engineering firm KMF Group during a star-studded ceremony at the Double Tree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent.