Highland Heroes: Vote for your Brave Child of the Year
Alfie Ross
Losing a parent unexpectedly is devastating at any age but for a child it is completely shattering.
Seven-year-old Alfie Ross from Inverness lost his dad, Christopher, suddenly on March 11, 2022, just days before his seventh birthday.
But the Smithton Primary School pupil has shown amazing resilience and courage to cope with his terrible loss with support from his ‘super’ nan and Christopher’s mum, Marie, who he lives with, his friends and school.
A nomination said: “His daddy was everything to him, he was his best friend, his hero, a sole-carer father to him and had brought him up from the moment he was born. His daddy would be so proud of the young, kind, caring and charming young boy he is turning into and I hope by nominating him for this award it will give him some recognition for the bravery and resilience he has shown at such a young age.”
Nan Marie and the family have been helping Alfie create lots of wonderful memories about his dad, including a trip to Skye where Marie grew up and where Christopher visited as a young boy, as well as marking significant childhood events. He has taken up karate and basketball, and later this year he is helping his aunt raise money from the Inverness half marathon in memory of his dad.
Marie was delighted: “Alfie is my little hero, he’s just so resilient, a strong, brave boy. He’s my little soldier. I’m delighted, especially this year. He will have very sad memories but we are trying to make good memories for him too.”
Gracie Andrew
The resilience of children never fails to inspire and six-year-old Gracie Andrew is no exception.
Born with hip dysplasia, the Invergordon youngster has gone through multiple surgeries in her short life and has spent long periods wearing a spica cast from her belly button to her ankles.
But these challenges have not stopped her from enjoying life at 100mph! She attends her dance classes, she loves cycling, climbing and playing with her friends at Newmore Primary School. After one surgery, she was back at school within days.
A nomination said: “She has never once let this get her down or stop her. She has faced it all head on.
As she has grown older, it has become harder for her as she notices how differently people react to her when she is in her wheelchair or in cast.
She uses this experience to make sure nobody else feels sad and will often go out of her way to make others smile and feel included. She has dreams and ideas of how to help people feel brave. She is an incredible inspiration already and deserves some recognition for what she has been through in her little life.”
Mum and dad, Katie and John, were thrilled Gracie has been shortlisted for the Heroes brave child award. Katie added: “Gracie’s strength and determination to stay positive and active after so many huge surgeries is incredible, she’s spent so much of her little life in spica cast.
“It’s wonderful for her to receive the recognition she deserves. All of her family and friends are so proud of her.”
Gracey Wemyss
Undergoing surgery is often a frightening experience for adults, but brave little Gracey Wemyss from Inverness is taking it in her stride – literally!
Despite just turning four, this remarkable youngster has gone through five surgeries including open heart surgery at seven months, has been airlifted to hospital, and has undergone multiple operations due to kidney problems. Glasgow’s children’s hospital has become almost a second home for the family.
Gracey, who attends Inshes Primary School nursery, was diagnosed with Down syndrome at 20 weeks and has battled since birth with health issues.
A nomination said: “Having surgeries and visits to hospitals across the country is unfortunately what Gracey experiences every year. Gracey has taken her first steps and has worked hard with support from her parents mainly to develop her speech and language. “She recently became a big sister. She is often in pain with urinary tract infections but is always smiling.”
Although her health will be an ongoing fight she proves time and again just how amazing she is!
In July last year she was able to stand unaided, in October she took her first steps and just this year she has started walking (and running!) keeping mum and dad, Shannon and Mikey, on their toes!
Gracey also became a big sister to one-year-old Matthew and the pair have formed a close bond.
Mum Shannon was delighted: “I’m so excited, it’s something to look forward too.
“It’s been quite a journey but with Gracey you would never know! She’s just so happy all the time!”
Words from the category sponsor: Peter Mason, director at Macleod & MacCallum, said: “We are delighted to once again support Highland Heroes and in particular the brave child of the year award. There are so many brave children in our community who face unrelenting challenges and adversity in their young lives. The nominations for the brave child award are always so inspiring and humbling, and of course the last few years have been particularly challenging for our children and young people.”
Alison Martin, also a director at the legal firm added “Everyone at Macleod & MacCallum, would encourage everybody to get behind Highland Heroes 2023 and support this important campaign. Please nominate a brave child in your community. They deserve to be celebrated for battling through their difficulties in these unprecedented times and being nominated is a recognition of what they have achieved in their young lives.”
Scott Dallas, a director of the legal firm, commented: “It would be great if as many people as possible could support these awards by voting in due course – it means so much to the young people who are nominated to realise how much support they have in the wider community”.
