Royal appointment for brave Ollie
A TERMINALLY ill young boy was given the royal seal of approval when he met Prince Harry at a national award ceremony.
Ollie Carroll, five, from Poynton, was picked ahead of hundreds of other nominees to win the inspirational child category at the 2016 WellChild Awards.
He has a rare genetic condition called Late Infantile Battens Disease, which means as he gets older he is losing his speech, mobility and eyesight and is unlikely to live past the age of 12.
Despite being diagnosed in February last year Ollie, with help from his family, attends fundraising events for the Batten’s Disease Family Association.
And they have also set up a Facebook campaign called Ollie’s Army to raise awareness of the condition.
He was given the inspirational child award for his brave work and among those to congratulate him at the ceremony, in London, was none other than Prince Harry.
Mum Lucy, who was among those to nominate Ollie for the award, said: “He is the reason I get up in the mornings, he is my inspiration and my strength.
“Ollie doesn’t understand what is going on with his body, his legs don’t do what he wants them to do, he opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out.
“Any adult would give up but Ollie keeps fighting, his smile lights up the room. He has surprised specialists with his strength and determination.
“Most would give up but not our Ollie. His spirit and determination make me very proud to be his mummy.”
Sadly one of Ollie’s three siblings – sister Amelia, three – has also been diagnosed with the disease.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, which was held at the Dorchester Hotel, on Park Lane, Prince Harry paid tribute to Ollie and the other winners.
He said: “The stories we have heard tonight are moving beyond words.
“They remind us of the utter insignificance of our everyday worries. Yet, one of the things that always stands out is the positivity shown by those in the most difficult and testing circumstances.
“It is heartening to hear so many stories of happiness and hope, even through the dark times.”
Visit www.olliesarmy. co.uk.