William Kirvan, a 16-year-old pupil at Dame Allan's Schools in Newcastle, has achieved a strong set of GCSE results after balancing his studies with supporting his mother through cancer treatment.
William's mother Belinda was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer in October 2024, just as he began studying for his GCSEs. Despite the diagnosis, William continued his studies, volunteered, and raised funds for the charity that supported his family.
Fundraising and Zumba
During his GCSE studies, William qualified as one of Europe's youngest Zumba instructors at age 14 and began running his own classes. He organised two fundraising Zumbathons, raising a combined £7,095.81 for Maggie's Newcastle at the Freeman Hospital, the cancer support charity that helped his mother.
William also volunteered at Heaton-Stannington FC for several years, handling matchday duties. When Belinda became ill and could no longer volunteer at the club, William took over running the shop.
His volunteering has earned him a place as a finalist for Northumberland FA's Young Volunteer of the Year award, following more than 300 nominations. The winner will be announced next month.
GCSE results
William collected his GCSE results, achieving eight grades 7-9 (equivalent to A* and A under the previous grading system) and one grade 6. His three grade 9s were in Maths, English and English Literature.
William said: "I'm really pleased with my results. It's been a busy two years, but I just got on with it. My GCSEs were a good distraction! I look back and think, 'Oh, that's happened', but at the time I just kept moving on!"
Family support
Belinda underwent corrective surgery following her cancer treatment on the same day William sat one of his GCSE exams. She has been given the all-clear and is now undergoing regular monitoring.
Belinda said: "William never used it as an excuse not to do something. He had his GCSEs, his Zumba, the fundraising and his volunteering. He just gets on with things. I'm incredibly proud of him."
Belinda has continued her own fundraising since her diagnosis. This year's Great North Run will be her 12th, having raised more than £14,000 for Cancer Research UK over the years. Her fundraising began after she lost her own mother to cancer when she was 17.
William, who has been at Dame Allan's since nursery and will remain for sixth form, plans to study History, Drama and Physics at A Level. Belinda said: "He has achieved so much alongside his GCSE studies, and he has done it while our family has been through something incredibly difficult. Of course I'm hoping he gets the results he wants, but I'm already incredibly proud of him."
