Inspirational Keira set to receive Medal of Honour at Palace of Westminster

The British Citizen Youth Award, now in its eighth year, will be honouring 24 young people from across the UK next month.

These are young people that have made a positive impact on their communities and wider society.

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

Each inspirational young person will be presented with the BCyA Medal of Honour at The Palace of Westminster on October 12, and are invited to use the post-nominals ‘BCyA’ as a legacy of their achievements and endeavours.

Fifteen-year-old Derker girl Keira-Louise Arnold will be one of the 2023 BCyA Roll of Honour recipients.

Keira has been fundraising for the past seven years to support Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, raising over £47,000.

The hospice cared for her Dad before he passed away, when Keira was just four years old.

When she learned of the care and support her Dad received, she vowed to help the hospice in any way she could.

Keira set up ‘Keira’s Wishes’ to help those suffering from terminal illness achieve their final last wishes.

All funding is independent, ranging from making items to sell or participating in larger fundraising events.

As well as fundraising for the final wishes of patients, she also raises awareness of the hospice itself.

One patient asked if she could go to Blackpool one last time, so Keira’s Wishes provided funds for the hospice to hire a private ambulance and two nurses, enabling the patient to travel, and the RNLI helped to get the patient across the sand to the water.

The patient passed away shortly after, having had her final wish granted.

Keira’s Wishes have also enabled one patient to get married at the end of their life.

Keira inspires others in the community to fundraise for the charity and despite her own loss, continues to raise funds and awareness.

The BCyA 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, in partnership with Specsavers, is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday young people for exceptional endeavor and is truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.

A proud Keira said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for a BCyA in recognition of my fundraising work for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

"I am really excited and looking forward to the medal presentation at the Palace of Westminster next month.

"I hope I have done you proud dad."

Jill Kirkham, Community and Partnerships Fundraising Lead at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, added: “It was a pleasure to nominate Keira for this award in recognition of her continue support of the Hospice in memory of her dad.

"Keira is growing into a lovely young lady whom we are very proud of here at Dr Kershaw’s.”

Mike Faulkner, Director of the BCyA, said: “We are delighted to be able to recognise these amazing individuals with a BCyA.

"It is both heartening and uplifting to know that so many young people are consciously contributing to causes such as the environment, climate change activism, ecology, and creating awareness and fundraising for hospitals and charities.

"The youth of today are truly the leaders of tomorrow and we are humbled that Dame Mary, who is also founder of Specsavers, has put her name to the prestigious group accolade enabling the BCyA to broaden its recognition of young people in society."

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 medal presentations - you can register online here

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