YOUNG people from Evesham and Worcester who care for relatives who have disabilities have had their dedication recognised at an awards ceremony.
Aleshia Layton Cooper, Edward Edkins and Alisha Jeffcoat are this year's winners of the Tryangle Awards, which are organised by Droitwich-based youth charity Young Solutions.
The three were awarded their Good Friends and Carers awards by Jonathan Brew and Charlotte Thornton-Smith of Harrison Clark Rickerbys, the law firm that sponsored the award..
Aleshia Layton Cooper, ahed 14, of Evesham, cares for her mother who is wheelchair-bound because she has advanced MS.
She was nominated because “she always has a smile on her face and copes amazingly well with the extra responsibilities”
Aleshia makes sure the housework is done, meals are made and her mum’s care needs are met.
She was joined on stage by 17 year old Edward Edkins, also from Evesham, who helps to care for his younger brother who has multiple disabilities – he himself has been diagnosed with Asperger’s. As well as helping his brother, he supports other young carers in the county and also attends college.
Having additional needs herself has not deterred the third recipient, Alisha Jeffcoat, aged 18, from Worcester, doing all she can to support her mum after they lost her sister Chantelle to congenital myotonic dystrophy.
After her sister’s death, she set out to raise money for research into the disease, using social media to encourage people to take part.
Harrison Clark Rickerbys sponsored the awards category through its own charitable trust.
Mr Brew said: “It was a marvellous evening. We were very happy to be able to support the young people in this way. The fact that the awards acknowledge the effort they make to overcome difficulties in their own lives to help others makes this a really inspiring event.”
Harrison Clark Rickerbys has 420 staff and partners based at offices in Worcester, Hereford, Cheltenham, the Wye Valley, Birmingham and the Thames Valley.
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