Special gift for brave Hayley

BRAVE Bexhill girl Hayley Okines, has been presented with an award at Asda in Eastbourne, following her recent naming as one of the ten Woman's Own Children of Courage for 2002.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Feb 2003, 08:05 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:22 BST

The ceremony, at which 10 children from all over the UK were presented with the Children of Courage Awards, took place shortly before Christmas at Westminster Abbey in London, and was attended by Prince Charles as well as many celebrities including actor Ross Kemp, TV presenter Cat Deeley and H and Claire, formerly of the pop group Steps.

For the last 29 years The Children of Courage Awards have been given to children who have demonstrated outstanding bravery and heroism in the face of danger, illness and adversity.

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For the last four years Asda, in association with the electrical firm Schneider UK, have donated prizes to each of the award winners and on Saturday morning Haley Okines was presented with a Schneider portable TV, video and CD player.

Four-year-old Hayley has the rare condition progeria, which means her body is ageing eight times faster than it should.

Yet despite the fact that the condition means Haley is already crippled with arthritis and has the heart and lungs of a 32-year-old, the cheerful little girl always remains upbeat, and refuses to feel sorry for herself.

James McGovern, general store manager at Eastbourne said: "Hayley is a very special little girl and her refusal to let a condition as serious as progeria get her down should act as an inspiration to us all."

Related topics:EastbourneASDA