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Prince Harry presents the WellChild Awards

27th October 2008

Prince Harry chatted and joked with seriously ill children at an awards ceremony honouring their bravery tonight.

The 24-year-old royal met winners of the WellChild Awards and their families at a star-studded event in London.

Crouching down so he was level with the children, some of whom were in wheelchairs, he brought smiles to their faces while also showing his interest in how their families were coping with their illnesses.

The Prince is Patron of the children's charity WellChild which supports children with serious illnesses.

It provides specialist nurses, a helpline for children and parents or carers and funds research into child health.

Prince Harry spent around half an hour chatting to the youngsters before they received their awards.

Prince Harry told Thomas Arrol, 10, he was impressed by his wheeled walking frame as he crouched down to talk to him.

Thomas, who won a Best Brave Child award in the 9-11 age group, was diagnosed with a malignant spinal tumour at the age of five and underwent extensive surgery followed by radiotherapy.

His mother Andrea, 39, from Yarm, Cleveland, said: "The Prince was asking about his frame - he said 'this is a cool contraption'.

"Thomas told him he can go down the hill on it and he told him about how he fell off last week.

"He was so easy to talk to."

The Prince tried to persuade Harvey Fleming, five, who won the Best Brave Child aged 2-5, to part with a glowing toy as he laughed with the little boy.

Harvey, from Brigg, North Lincolnshire, was born prematurely and spent the first two years of his life in hospital on a ventilator. He has chronic lung disease and asthma.

Harvey was recently adopted by his foster parents David and Paula.

Mrs Fleming, 40, said: "He was asking if he could have it (the toy), but Harvey wouldn't part with it.

"When Harvey put it round Prince Harry's neck he said: 'Oh am I having it now?' but Harvey said 'no'."

"The Prince is lovely," she added. "He is brilliant with the children."

Another winner, of Best Brave Child aged six to eight-years-old, Lizzie Lansley, eight, from Maybush, Southampton, also spoke to Prince Harry.

The Prince joked with keen judo competitor Lizzie, saying: "I will stay away from you - you're dangerous".

Lizzie was born with a tumour at the base of her spine and was given only a 50 per cent chance of walking yet she went on to take up judo.

When Harry stopped next to Haydn Longworth's wheelchair, the 14-year-old had a chance to perform his royal bow, which his mother Gill said he had been practising for eight weeks.

Haydn, from Cheadle, Cheshire, who won Best Brave Child in the 12-15 category, said: "I told him who I was and how happy I was to be here. It's a dream come true."

Haydn suffers from achondroplasia (restricted growth) and hydrocephalus, which causes excessive fluid in the brain.

Cancer sufferer Drew Wayment was told he would be sitting next to Prince Harry during the awards ceremony.

The 17-year-old winner in the Best Brave Child 16+ category said he was looking forward to chatting more to Prince Harry about their shared interest in rugby after meeting him at the reception.

Drew, from Upper Belvedere, Kent, was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma (a form of bone cancer) last year and is still undergoing chemotherapy.

At the time he had been selected for England under-16s having already played rugby for Blackheath, Kent and the Saracens academy.

Drew said: "He asked if I had kept fit and what position I played in.

"He said he thought I looked a bit like Josh Lewsey.

"He seemed to know a lot about rugby and he seems like a down-to-earth, very genuine guy, very normal."

Drew said he was looking forward to playing again when he finishes treatment.

The Prince was joined on stage by WellChild Chief Executive Kedge Martin to present awards to the youngest winners, Harvey Fleming and Lily Slater, four, from Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear.

Lily and her twin sister Willow were born prematurely.

Lily, who earlier met Harry with her sister and mother Shirley, 39, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of three and has helped other children having cancer treatment.

A string of celebrities also presented awards, including comedian and actor Alexander Armstrong, Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne, GMTV presenter Kate Garraway, Strictly Come Dancing's Iain Waite, judo star Craig Fallon and BBC Newsnight host Emily Maitlis.

The audience enjoyed refreshments as they watched videos telling the stories of the brave children and their families, who came from all over the United Kingdom.

Caring children and medical and education staff were also honoured with awards.

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