Girl honoured after raising £215k for Birmingham hospital

Elizabeth raised money by running one mile every day for 26 days

A girl who suffered severe burns as a baby, and raised £215,000 for a hospital that treated her, was honoured in the Pride of Birmingham Awards.

Eight-year-old Elizabeth has had more than 70 operations, after her cot set alight when she was six months old.

In addition, Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard surprised 10-year-old Oscar on Monday night, with the Child of Courage award.

Oscar has Batten Disease, an incurable condition affecting his nervous system.

Steven Gerrard said Oscar was "inspirational"

Since Oscar's diagnosis, his family have been raising awareness of the rare disease in a hope that they can reach out to other families who may be going through the same journey as them.

Former Liverpool player Gerrard invited Oscar's family to watch his team train and have lunch with the players.

'Unbelievably enthusiastic'

Elizabeth, also a recipient of the Child of Courage award, ran a mile every day to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital, despite having limited movement.

She raised £215,000, including £160,000 for a laser machine that softens tissue and reduces tightness around severe scars from burns and other forms of injury and trauma.

Elizabeth, whose cot set alight due to a malfunctioning air conditioner, was "an unbelievably enthusiastic child", father Liam said.

He added: "She never complains, she just gets on and does it, always has a smile on her face."

Nazir Afzal has been given a Lifetime Achievement award

Birmingham-born lawyer Nazir Afzal, who became the UK's first Muslim chief prosecutor, was given a lifetime achievement award.

The former chief prosecutor for north-west England "was at the forefront of a series of challenging and landmark cases, including the first prosecutions for honour killings and modern slavery", Pride of Birmingham said.

Other recipients include a mother who campaigns for kits to aid stabbing victims and a police officer.

In her son's memory, Lynne Baird, 65, set up the Daniel Baird Foundation, which presses for potentially lifesaving bleed kits to be made accessible.

Lynne Baird was presented with a special recognition award from David Bradley and Dame Maureen Lipman

Mr Baird, 26, died when a dispute between two groups of men spilled outside a pub in the city in 2017. His mother, who has been appointed an MBE, was given a special recognition award.

PC Mat Evans, 42, who has been with West Midlands Police for 22 years, was recognised on the night for tackling a knifeman who had stabbed an NHS worker outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, while he was off-duty.