Bravery is rewarded Youngsters' bravery and courage in the face of adversity was recognised at the Advertiser’s Children of Courage Awards last week. One little girl, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour late last year, was all smiles when she found out she was among the winners at the awards ceremony, held at Highfields School, Newark. Mae Shaw (3) of Winchilsea Avenue, Newark, was awarded the cup for showing an act of bravery. She has had several surgical procedures on her brain and is having chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Through all this Mae went to the nursery at Barnby Road Primary School, Newark, with a smile on her face, even though she felt so unwell at times. Mae, who has a wicked sense the Christmas concert but still attended on the day and sang all the songs at the top of her voice. Her parents, Mr and Mrs Tim Shaw, both (36) said they were really proud of their daughter and thrilled she had been recognised. Mr Shaw said their daughter was a little fighter. Mrs Sarah Shaw said: “Of course we think she is special but it is nice for the school to nominate her.” Mae was nominated by the nursery manager at the primary school, Mrs Jayne Campbell. Mrs Campbell said: “Mae has a wonderful, loving supportive family. This obviously helps her to cope with the intrusive medical procedures which she bears with bravery and acceptance that adults would find extremely difficult to deal with.” A medal winner for showing an act of bravery was Izzy Smith (10) of Old Rufford Road, Ollerton, who made the tragic discovery that her mother had taken her own life. Izzy has coped incredibly well and when any family members are upset, she comforts them all and never complains. All the children recognised at the Advertiser event received their awards from singer Sarah Jory of Balderton, after a lunch at the school. At the end of the presentations, the Advertiser’s joint managing director, Miss Joanna Parlby, said: “It is just unbelievable the courage and grit everybody has got. It is absolutely fantastic.” Olie Sheppard (16) of Grove Street, Balderton, won the cup for his work raising money for a charity after the death of his father, Mr Kevin Sheppard (45). Despite losing his father, who died at Christmas, 2003 after suffering from lymphoma, Olie was still thinking about others. In May last year despite finding out about the event only two weeks before, Olie completed the 19-mile Clumber Park Bikeathon. He raised a total of £600 for Leukaemia Research and the money raised went to the stemcell treatment at City Hospital, Nottingham, where his father was treated. Olie said he was happy to win the award and he hoped his father would be proud. He said he raised the money to try to stop other people suffering a loss like he had. He said: “I didn’t want other people to go through what I went through.” His mother, Mrs Julia Sheppard (48) said her son had to create his own sponsorship form because of the lack of time before the event. Mrs Sheppard said Olie was wearing a backpack with a picture of his father on it and he finished in fifth place out of 1,000 participants. She said her son was planning to raise more money by competing in the event once again in May. She said: “I’m so proud of him. “He has been through so much. He always thinks about other people before himself.” A medal winner for her charity work was seven-year-old Emily Pegg who bounced her way to raise money for Beaumond House Community Hospice. Emily of Cranmer Road, Newark, completed 200 bounces on her trampoline to raise £536.50 for the hospice. She wanted to help the hospice after her great-grandfather, Mr Stanley Beevers of Wolsey Road, Newark, died there in the summer, aged 85. When visiting the hospice, Emily and her younger brother Ben were given drinks and sweets by the staff and she decided she wanted to give some money back. She also wanted to see a plaque on the hospice’s tree of life for her great-grandfather, which is now in place. Emily now wants to raise more money by doing a sponsored bike ride. Her mother, Mrs Sam Pegg, said she was really proud her daughter had been recognised. She said: “As soon as she went up for her award I started crying. I’m ever so proud of her."