'Young Hero' Maxwell wins award for supporting hospice which cared for his baby sister
A little boy from Melton Mowbray who raised money for the hospice which cared for his baby sister in her final days has won a prestigious award for being a ‘young hero’.
We reported last winter how Maxwell Appleyard completed a fundraising Santa Run with dad, Luke, to secure nearly £1,500 in sponsorship for Leicestershire’s Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.
His efforts won him a nomination for the Young Hero category at the BBC Radio Leicester Make A Difference Awards and Maxwell was delighted when his name was announced as the winner at the presentation ceremony at the city’s Peepul Centre.
More than 200 guests, including Leicestershire Police Chief Constable David Sandall and the High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Mel Thomas QPM, warmly applauded the seven-year-old as he received his certificate.
His mum Viki told the Melton Times: “We are incredibly proud of Maxwell.
"This award came as a complete surprise to him and he can't believe that he has won.
"Maxwell managed to raise over £1,430 in December last year for Rainbows Children's Hospice in Loughborough in memory of his baby sister, Lily.
"He completed the Santa Fun Run and initially set himself a target of £100 to raise.
"He achieved this within a day and continued to increase his target.
"Maxwell said that he can't wait to raise money for Rainbows and that he would love to work there when he is older to help other children like Lily.”
The annual awards were launched five years ago to celebrate local people whose kindness, resilience and commitment have made a difference to their communities.
There were hundreds of nominations this year for the eight award categories.
Judges this year included television presenter and former newsreader, Angela Rippon, and local actor, Parminder Nagra, a star of iconic movie, Bend It Like Beckham.
Maxwell’s sister, Lily, sadly passed away in 2022 aged just under six-weeks-old.
Rainbows supported her with end-of-life care after she was diagnosed at Leicester Royal Infirmary with Neonatal Epilepsy, giving great comfort to the family.
Maxwell has also benefited from Rainbows’ Sibling Support Service and Music Therapy sessions.