'Young hero's' mission to help kids with cancer

Chloe completed her studies while undergoing cancer treatment

A "young hero" who has been raising awareness about childhood cancer after being diagnosed with the condition while completing her GCSEs has received a prestigious award.

The Bristol Young Heroes Awards, held on Friday, celebrated dozens of teenagers who have been achieved remarkable milestones while overcoming adversity.

Chloe took home the Overall Young Hero of the Year award after she completed her exams while being treated for cancer.

She said: "I am going to continue the work I do in raising awareness of childhood cancer, teenage cancer and inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)."

Community of Purpose, the charity behind the awards, follows the winners along their journeys before introducing them to mentors who can help take them through their next steps.

The charity's bosses are calling for more businesses to come forward to help support the young people.

Gemma Box, from the organisation, said: "I cannot tell you how proud I am of each and every one of them. They are different people to the ones I first met."

The 11th Bristol Young Heroes Awards took place on Friday

Other winners include Tallan who was awarded Community Hero for his work supporting disadvantaged children at the ceremony.

The 15-year-old began volunteering in April 2024.

"I work on the Breakthrough Project which helps kids from poorer backgrounds and gives them two meals per day through the half terms.

"A lot of kids just don't get enough food," he said.

Aliese (C) won the Learning Hero award after moving to the UK and achieving the highest grade in her English GCSE

Aliese, an 18-year-old from Ukraine, won the Learning Hero award for completing her GCSEs, despite having no English language skills.

"I had to do my GCSEs in one year, it was crazy," she said.

"I set myself a challenge and said, 'I'm going to do it'.

She achieved a grade 9 in English, something which she "couldn't believe".

"Adversity does feel hopeless but sometimes it gives you a sense of transformation and makes you a completely different person," Aliese added.

Community of Purpose, the social enterprise which runs the award ceremony, is working with 80 businesses in Bristol to mentor young people.

It is aiming to reach 100 businesses by the end of the year.