The girl who decided to help feed families of sick kids ...as she lay in hospital herself

When Emmie Narayn-Nicholas was diagnosed with leukaemia aged eight, her world was flipped on its head. Instead of going back to school after the summer holidays, she spent five weeks in hospital – followed by two and a half years of gruelling treatment.

But amazing Emmie, now 11, was determined something good should come out of her ordeal.

So less than a year later she set up Emmie’s Kitchen to provide food for parents living at the bedsides of other sick children, often hours from home.

Not only has Emmie now rung the bell to celebrate the end of her treatment, but she has also been named as a Child of Courage at this year’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB.

And she will be seen getting her award when the show is broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Sunday.

Emmie, who lives with her mum, Eve, 42, dad, Stephen, 45, and brother Billy, 15, in Manchester, says: “I set up Emmie’s Kitchen after seeing how other parents and people go through it.

“I felt a bit overwhelmed when I found out I’d won a Pride of Britain Award. I’d like to say a very big thank you to whoever nominated me.”

To surprise Emmie with her award, Diversity’s Ashley and Jordan Banjo and Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford visited her as she prepared care packages including snack bags and toiletry baskets.

She says: “It was crazy. They said, are you from Emmie’s Kitchen?”

Marcus, who has been awarded his own Special Recognition Award for his campaign to stop children going hungry over the summer, is full of admiration for a cause close to his heart.

He said: “She’s 11 and thinking about helping other people – despite the fact she’s going through things herself.

“If we get a whole generation acting and behaving in the way she behaves, the future of everyone’s communities is going to be much better than the one I grew up in. I’m very happy to be here.”

Emmie’s parents first realised something was wrong during a family holiday in August 2017. Eve said: “She was a bit tired and, looking back, had lost a lot of weight – I thought she was just growing.

“Her appetite had depleted too and she was bruising quite easily.

“I didn’t realise then that it was a sign of anything. Then her legs hurt , and she was a funny colour, looking yellow and a bit pale.”

When they got back home, Eve made a doctor appointment and Emmie was given a blood test.

Eve said: “The lab rang at 7.30pm and said it was an emergency. Her haemoglobin was seriously low, she had to go to hospital.

“She was still herself but the doctors said she shouldn’t even have been walking. They said it was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and she’d be in for five weeks for her first intensive chemo.”

Dad Stephen said: “Obviously you start thinking the worst – is she going

to live?” Eve added: “I don’t think Emmie had time to process it – she was disappointed because she was meant to go back to school that day.” And despite her diagnosis, Emmie stayed strong. Eve said: “We were really taken aback by her strength. “We could easily have crumbled but Emmie said, ‘Pull yourself together, we’ve got to do this’.”

But the longer they stayed in hospital, the more the reality hit home. Eve said: “She got a few infections, those

Emmie helped parents through her ordeal were the worst times. And the longer we were on the ward, the more children we saw with no hair. “Emmie asked if hers herswould would fall out – it itwas was down to her bum andmeant and meant everything to her. She said she didn’t mind, so long as she could have a blue wig. She was eight, but dealt with it in such a strong way.”

In the course of nine months, Emm i e spen t 1 0 0 day s

STUNNED STU Ashley breabreaks the news to EmmEmmie of her win

WINNING DUO Marcus and Emmie show their awards

and nights at the Royal Manchester Manc Children’s Hospital, and also went twice a week for chemotherapy. chemotherap

That Thatwaswhen was when she saw how fortunate nate she was that her family lived close and could pop home to eat. e

Roping in her parents and gran Jacqueline, Emmie came up with wi the idea of making meals for the p parents and families of other young patients pa who were not so lucky.

Eve said: “Emmie noticed l lots of others didn’t have that support su bubble. She said, ‘Mummy, ‘ Mummy, I think nobody really looks after the parents’. pa

“Emmie’s gran was also involved invol in

PRIDE OF MUM & DAD Winner Emmie with her parents Stephen & Eve a food project, so when she dropped food off for us, she brought some for other parents too. That’s where it evolved from. But we never thought it would build so quickly.”

In June 2018, Emmie opened Emmie’s Kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House next to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Once a month, up to 200 people are treated to a free three-course dinner – and some respite from the ward.

Emmie’s Kitchen is now a registered charity, running on donations and the work of volunteers.

Even during lockdown it served 440 Friday night takeaways and Emmie put together 700 snack bags

STAR TURNOUT Emmie sees Ashley and Jordan surprise Marcus with his own award and toiletry baskets. Eve said: “We get lovely messages, everybody can identify with it. Everybody knows it could be their child in hospital tomorrow.

“For Emmie it’s about using her experience in a positive way. She’s building something out of it.

“She rang the end of treatment bell in December. I’m unbelievably proud.

“Sometimes we take for granted that she works so hard, but she’s 11 and just starting high school. But she’s seen she can make a difference.”

Emmie already has special plans to watch Sunday’s awards. She giggles: “I’ll probably be watching it in bed.”