Five-year-old Gregor Corse, who won a Pride of Britain award, has raised more than £75,000 for charity after being inspired to walk again by his snooker idol Stephen Hendry. Born with a rare neurological condition, Gregor struggled to get back on his feet at the age of three and a half after being laid low with a tummy bug.
Inspiration from a snooker legend
His mum Iona, 32, a florist on the Scottish island of Orkney, came up with the idea of encouraging her determined 'wee man' to put his best foot forward. She found an unlikely path to recovery – Hendry's YouTube channel giving tips on how to play his favourite game.
Gregor had only one thing on his mind when he collected his Child of Courage trophy: he wanted a game of snooker with the seven-times world champion. Hendry promised he would give him a game on Good Morning Britain as he presented their Young Fundraiser award.
Walking 'aroon the hoose'
Iona watched as her son first took on the house on foot. It convinced Gregor that he could walk again – first inside their house from one room to another, and then outside. Gregor decided he would do walks 'aroon the hoose' to help other children and started wearing uniforms, including a policeman's and a fireman's, before local businesses sponsored him to wear their logos.
Hendry presented him not only with the coveted trophy but with a new cue, saying: "You do what you do, and you have no idea of the people watching it and the impact it might have. Gregor is an amazing little boy, what he has done is just totally incredible."
Fundraising success
Speaking at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards in partnership with P&O Cruises, Iona recalled her son dressing as a fireman and police officer and receiving a visit from the Lord Lieutenant as his charity walks captured the hearts of thousands of donors. She said: "I am so proud of him. His motto is: 'I can do this'. One day he was sitting watching Stephen Hendry's snooker programme online. He said to me that he would love to walk like Stephen Hendry on Cue Tips. And then he let himself go and started to walk again."
She added: "Every time he did a loop around the house, I would put a little ball on the snooker table for him. Right in the very beginning of the fundraising, he was wearing a kilt. The second day he had a logo on his top, and then second day, there was a garage. So we got about 28 businesses that he liked, they were all garages and building companies. The police and fire brigades came and each building firm came along too, so in the end it just took off – we knew that we were really onto something."
Former 'I'm a Celebrity' winner Sam Thompson donned a kilt, blazer and hat to match Gregor's outfit, and Gregor loved it. Gregor has now raised more than £75,000 for good causes.
