Selfless Ellesmere Port schoolgirl with rare illness Poppy-Mae to receive top national award

Poppy-Mae Jones, nine, will be honoured on October 20 with The British Citizen Youth Award in a ceremony at The Palace of Westminster along with 24 other young stars.

Poppy-mae Jones with mum Sharon Jones.

Poppy-Mae starting fundraising aged just five, with a several-mile walk. Her proudest achievement however, remains climbing the equivalent stairs to Snowdon, just three months after her large colon was removed, raising £5,000.

All her selfless fundraising has happened despite Poppy-Mae being born with a congenital bowel disease which has contributed to other physical and mental health issues, which are sadly still ongoing.

Poppy-mae Jones, nine, from Ellesmere Port, has raised thousands of pounds for local good causes and donated hundreds of items.

Despite this, Cambridge Primary School pupil Poppy-Mae continues to encourage and inspire others and is constantly raising money and awareness. Through donations and fundraising, she has filled an ambulance and two cars full of toys for Christmas for both Countess of Chester and Alder Hey Hospitals.

Speaking in reaction to the news Poppy-Mae was to receive the award, mum Sharon said: "We were completely overwhelmed and bursting with pride!

Poppy-mae Jones has selflessly helped good causes despite ongoing medical problems.

"It is such an honour for her to be recognised for all her hard work at such a young age.

"Poppy is still a bit overwhelmed and doesn't quite understand it all, she said she doesn't help others to get awards – she does it because it's the right thing to do."

Poppy-Mae has had a number of operations and has mobility issues which cause her constant pain, requiring daily medication, but she does not let any of this deter her, as she has raised over £16,000 for Alder Hey Children's Hospital and the Countess of Chester Hospital.

In addition, she has donated toys, sweets and gifts for parents to both hospitals.

The invitations to the British Citizen Youth Awards that Poppy-mae Jones and her family have received.

Sharon added: "She's still very much suffering which is sad. We were told she has complete gut dysmotility, gastroparesis, so her whole digestive system doesn't work as it should so we are struggling to manage it but she gets through ever day, no matter how hard.

"We are keeping her hospital admissions down which is always our goal."

Regardless of her daily struggles, Poppy-Mae continues to show her strength and determination to help others and inspire people of all ages.

She has a social media page that has a wide range of followers from across the globe, called Poppy Power.

The British Citizen Youth Awards will honour Poppy-mae Jones in an event in London later this month.

Each Medal of Honour bears the words ‘For the Good of the Country’ and is presented to only a small number of exceptional young individuals annually. The British Citizen Youth Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday young people for exceptional endeavour and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.

The British Citizen Youth Award, now in its eighth year, will be honouring 25 young people from across the UK that have made a difference in their communities and society as a whole.

These selfless young people have shown kindness and a commitment to a multitude of causes, raising funds and awareness, all dedicated to making a difference.

Each inspirational young person will be presented at The Palace of Westminster with the BCyA Medal of Honour and given the opportunity to use the post-nominals ‘BCyA’ as a legacy of their achievements and service.