Kentish Express Ashford & District
Brave youngsters praised at awards
Stories of courage in the face of difficulty have put some of Ashford’s most inspiring young people in the spotlight.
Jessica Roberts is one of those and the youngster, who has complex medical needs, was named a winner of this year’s Try Angle Awards.
She has pursued her school studies despite having postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), which leads to dizziness and heart palpitations, causing her joints to dislocate easily.
Nominated in the courage category at the 25th Try Angle awards, Jessica was presented with the overall Spirit of Try Angle award, during a ceremony at Ashford International Hotel.
Elsewhere in the awards, sisters Jess and Lauren Hone, who are Highworth School pupils, were praised for how they showed resilience after the shock loss of their father.
Sharing their grief with the school and a wider audience, the girls have raised the profile the charity Mind, saying why its work is important to them and others.
Praised for being “diligent and hardworking” by their school, Lauren is now also a community captain working on events and fundraising.
Among the other 24 finalists at the awards, organised by Kent County Council (KCC), was Brendan Maher, who was nominated in the positive intervention category.
The 12-year-old, who has autism and lives in Brookfield, saves his pocket money to buy ‘homeless kits’, consisting of water, snacks, wet wipes, toothbrushes, shampoos, socks, hats, gloves and scarves, handing them out to Ashford’s rough sleepers.
Another of the night’s finalists was Homewood’s William Herbert, a member of the under-16s British ten pin bowling team, who is highly ranked in intercounty championships.
Despite his sporting commitments, he has continued to work hard at his school and will sit his GCSEs this year.