Boy is youngest award finalist

A 12-year-old boy who raised thousand of pounds for charity in memory of his brother has been named as youngest ever finalist for Robert Burns Humanitarian Award (RBHA).

Mason Kidd, from Cumnock, East Ayrshire, carried out 18 “acts of kindness” last year in memory of his brother, Ross, who died of cancer aged two.

Mason, who has autism, took pizzas to a local fire station, treated police officers to doughnuts, left tennis balls in the park in Cumnock for dog walkers and their pets, and bought teddies for the babies at Ayrshire Maternity Neonatal Unit as part of his effort.

His 18th act of kindness was to raise £10,000 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, presenting the money to the hospital on 1 December, which would have been his brother’s 18th birthday.

He has been nominated for the Burns Award along with Sandra Brown, who has championed support for victims of sexual abuse, and Ann Ferrer, who set up the Rural Development Trust in India to promote women’s rights.

The Burns Award was created to recognise the efforts of people who help change lives for the better.

Mason said: “I hope to be able to make more people smile hearing about my Kidd Kindness Project.”