Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
Raising money for children fighting cancer since they were 9 years old.
When best friends and football fanatics Hughie and Freddie were 9 years old, Hughie was diagnosed with a type of cancer called Leukaemia. Hughie was touched by how well the doctors and nurses on Ward 84 at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital looked after him and wanted to give something back so he signed up to take part in one of the hospital’s fundraising initiatives called Humphrey’s Lantern Walk. Sadly, on the day of the walk Hughie was too poorly to walk but his friends and family took part in his place. Together they raised more than £21,000. Hughie felt proud of the amazing sum that they had raised and saw the impact that it had on Ward 84. He caught the fundraising bug and spread it to Freddie who was desperate to do whatever he could to help his friend Hughie who was so bravely battling cancer.
While Hughie was still in hospital Freddie set himself the challenge of running 2km every day for 50 days, with the aim of running his 100th kilometre on Christmas Day. Come rain, shine, frost or snow and no matter how busy the rest of his day was, Freddie would summon the energy to get out and run his 2km. Word of Freddie’s fundraising started to spread and soon the boys were invited onto their local BBC radio station. Before long Freddie was joined not only by friends and family, but even by some strangers and celebrities such as the players at their favourite football team, Burnley FC. On Christmas Day, Hughie mustered up the strength and determination to join Freddie for the final bit of his 2km run, running for the first time since he fell poorly in July.
By now Hughie and Freddie’s combined fundraising had raised a whopping great £250,000! The money they raised helped buy vital equipment (such as a Belmont Infusor that helps warm blood ready to transfuse), pay for a professional music therapist to host a weekly music therapy session for patients, buy a supply of fresh fruit for the ward, buy slushie pouches to soothe the sore mouths of cancer patients on the ward and re-vamp the ward to make it better for young people and teenagers.
But Freddie and Hughie wanted to do more. They saw how much of a difference they had made to Hughie’s ward and wanted to do the same to every children’s hospital in England. They decided to set themselves a new challenge, and this time Hughie was well enough to take part. Together the boys would run 1km at every Premier League and English Football League club, and raise money for the nearest children’s cancer department to each ground they visited. On top of this, the boys have written a book called ‘Friends are Amazing, Be the Best Friend you Can Be’ and 25p from each copy sold goes to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. In 2021, Hughie and Freddie were awarded the Pride of Britain Award for their amazing fundraising efforts.
Campaigning for access to clean water for Canada’s indigenous communities since she was 8 years old.
Raising awareness of the effects of the Syrian civil war and calling for peace since she was 6 years old.
Challenging the representation of girls and women in society since she was 11 years old.
Running a marathon in 10 days to raise money for homeless people when he was 7 years old.
Fundraising for the farmers whose incomes have been affected by drought in Australia since he was 11 years old.
Inspiring girls to learn about and aspire to work in science and technology subjects since she was 16 years old.
Creating and growing a bank that helps children save money by recycling since he was 12 years old.
Designing technology to supply electricity and water without emitting greenhouse gases since he was 15 years old.
Campaigning for the banning of plastic bags in Bali since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Designing a solar powered ironing cart to reduce charcoal burning in India since she was 12 years old.
Petitioning for schools to give children reusable water bottles since he was 7 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Set up organisations supporting cancer patients, people in poverty, and promoting golf in young black girls, since she was 10 years old.
Saving the lives of hundreds of hedgehogs in the UK since they were 9 years old.
Campaigning to promote proper battery disposal and recycling since he was 10 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
The world’s youngest sustainability advocate – working to make the world a better place since she was 3 years old.
Solving the problem of water contamination using science and technology since she was 11 years old.
