Kirsty Waugh, a Pride of Britain Child of Courage winner, raised £250,000 for cancer charities after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at just 10 years old. Her story of selfless courage moved the audience at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards in partnership with P&O Cruises.
A Global Campaign to Help Others
Two years on, with surgeons unable to remove much of the tumour, Kirsty is making plans to enjoy life with ambitions to be a dancer, journalist, or TV presenter - after an invitation from Ashley Banjo. Despite suffering pain, hair loss, sickness, and breathlessness, she launched 'My Name Is Kirsty', a global campaign aiming to track down her namesakes. She mapped them digitally to raise funds for brain tumour research.
With her trophy in her hand, she said: "I am really looking forward to next year. I would love to present Pride of Britain. It has been such an amazing night."
Overcoming Challenges with Positivity
Kirsty was told that she had won during a performance of the Masked Singer, with comedian Alan Carr in disguise. She had the Pride of Britain audience in fits of laughter when she said: "It is quite hard to hide Alan Carr you know."
She added: "I still cannot quite believe all this is happening. It is crazy because I did not expect it. I decided after the diagnosis that I could either get on with my life or go into a sulk. I am trying to make a difference while I am going through this and what has happened has also helped take my mind off it. I want the message to get out there that you can start something and it may make a difference."
Widespread Support and Fundraising Success
Legally Blonde star Amber Davies said: "Kirsty captured the hearts of everyone. It will remain one of my most cherished memories and to be part of your story was the greatest honour." McFly's Danny Jones added: "She has been described as an icon. To think of other children when you are going through what she was going through is the biggest thing for me. I am just so inspired by that."
Kirsty has already connected with more than 14,000 Kirstys across the world, in more than 50 countries and all seven continents. Donations through her website have already raised more than £125,000 for OSCAR's Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity.
Family Insights and Future Plans
Her dad Mat explained: "Kirsty's tumour is benign, but as the charities explain, 'Benign isn't fine,' because it's growing in a place it can't grow. Unfortunately about 17 weeks into the second chemo treatment, Kirsty got an allergic reaction, so we're now waiting on a new plan. It's been tough."
He added: "She's had to cope with an ever-changing list of consequences from both the chemo and the tumour itself, however she tries to live in the moment and put a positive spin on things. Kirsty loves to crochet, so that was the inspiration for her first campaign. Then when Kirsty learned about the injustice of the lack of funding for research into childhood brain tumours - even though they are a leading cause of cancer death. She really wanted to do something to help. She said, 'Why don't I just ask people called Kirsty?' It was a real slow burn at first but now it's genuinely gone worldwide."
Kirsty added: "This year I'm trying to show how much everyone cares about children with brain tumours, and raise money to find cures and better treatments, wherever they are in the world." Her dad said her meeting with Davina McCall at their home, who had also been treated for a brain tumour and read Kirsty's story, made him very emotional. Davina was in the audience and applauded and cheered as Kirsty, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, took centre stage.
She reflected on her own diagnosis in the film to accompany Kirsty's award presentation, saying: "They could operate on my brain tumour. But they could not do that for Kirsty." The TV presenter has befriended the courageous schoolgirl and paid tribute to her extraordinary fundraising when she faced the toughest time imaginable. To connect with Kirsty or donate, visit mynameiskirsty.com.
