Harry named Young Hero at the Sun's Who Cares Wins awards
This weekend, Harry, who has fundraised thousands for charities in the memory of his little brother Reuben, was presented with the Young Hero award at The Sun's Who Cares Wins awards ceremony.
We are so proud of Harry and his inspiring achievements. He has raised an incredible £95,000 for charities who supported his little brother, Reuben and his family, of which over £20,500 was donated to Naomi House & Jacksplace.
This year's 'Who Cares Wins' awards celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS as well as recognising the healthcare heros and volunteers who dedicate themselves to helping others.
Harry Byrne received the 'Young Hero' award, and during the ceremony, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised Harry for his fantastic achievement, saying:
"What you’ve done is really remarkable. It’s an honour to meet you."
Harry was also congratulated by many stars on the day including Davina McCall, Denise Van Outen, James Corden, Anthony Joshua, and Gary Lineker.
Sophie Byrne, Harry's mum, emphasises the meaning of the Young Hero award for her and Harry:
Harry truly doesn't know the enormity of his achievements and how truly magnificent he is. However, he does know how much he's helped to make a difference to the charities that have helped Reuben, simply as a token of his gratitude. This is so important to Harry, he saw first-hand the love and care Reuben received from the remarkable charities.
Harry's brother, Reuben
Harry's brother Reuben was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder which causes the brain to slowly deteriorate, as well as affecting the growth and development of cells in the body. The condition is currently identified as PIGB related glycosylphatidylinositol GPI disorder and there have been less than 20 cases recorded globally. Due to the complexity of his condition, Reuben received support from both Naomi House & Jacksplace and Julia’s House. In December 2021, Reuben sadly died.
The support of Naomi House & Jacksplace was amazing for our family. The specialist care and support they give is irreplaceable. It almost feels like you’re up high in the trees and Naomi House & Jacksplace is your safety net. If we were going to fall, they were going to catch us.
Harry's next adventure
Harry has been keeping Reuben's legacy alive by fundraising through different challenges. In early 2021, he completed a 45-mile walk, the distance between Naomi House & Jacksplace and Julia’s House. He and his dad walked the overall distance in 5 mile loops, three times a day across three days, raising over £14,500. Harry’s next challenge was to “race around the moon”. This meant walking the distance around the moon, 6,786 miles, in just three months!
Harry's mum said:
He truly wanted to prove to Reuben that he loved him to the moon and back. With the help of his moon trekkers - family and friends - they completed challenge after challenge. Not only did he raise lots of money but most importantly, wonderful memories were made.
Harry has no plans of slowing down with his fundraising challenges and is attempting to complete the National Three Peaks challenge in October 2023. You can donate to support his challenge here.
Next month, October 2023, Harry takes on the infamous National Three Peaks Challenge, to keep Reuben's legacy alive. He knows this is an enormous challenge and he needs all the support he can get.