Caring, fundraising and yet still coming top of the class – four Salford lads have been nominated by friends and family and have been named as the most inspiring young people in the city.
Shaun Pack, Ethan Evans and brothers Jack and Lewis Pierce will star in a short film created by pupils of the UTC at Salford Quays, which will be screened for Youth Day on Friday August 12.
Councillor Lisa Stone, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said: “These young lads are simply amazing.
“Each one has been thrown challenges by life that would knock some adults for six but they’ve tackled every one head on and come through smiling. They’ve also thought about their experiences and used them to help make other people’s lives better.”
Shaun, 12, from Eccles, is an active member of Salford Young Carers, caring for his mum and often leads school assemblies to raise awareness of the needs of young carers.
Despite living with the developmental coordination disorder dyspraxia, Shaun is goalkeeper for the Manchester City Ability Squad, training with them every week and the North West Cerebal palsy team, where he has been chosen to undertake a junior leaders course because of his support for younger players.
Jack, 11, and his brother Lewis, 13, were nominated as one. Last year Lewis was hospitalised by a rare form of epilepsy, febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) and has been seriously ill since.
Despite this, Jack continues to thrive at school whilst getting involved in his family’s community fundraising efforts for Lewis, rallying support from friends, the academy and the community alike.
Ethan Evans, 13, took up swimming to help him recover from a serious hit and run accident. He also raised more than £15,000 for a variety of charities including The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Cancer Unit.
Last year Ethan had to be rushed to hospital after loss of feeling in his limbs. Doctors diagnosed the rare condition as hemiplegic migraine which has left Ethan unable to swim.
However he continues to fundraise for local charities and has recently been presented with both the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford’s Citizen Award and the national British Citizen Award.
You can see individual and the group trailers for the film at this link
