Jonjo Heuerman has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours List
Schoolboy fundraiser extraordinaire Jonjo Heuerman, who has raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds to help beat cancer, has scored a blinder – a ‘gong’ at just 13.
Jonjo from Dartford, Kent, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list.
Jonjo, is the youngest person to receive the BEM in this year’s awards and one of the youngest ever to be given the honour.
Jonjo, started his football-themed fundraising walks five years ago and has raised £235,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.
He was inspired to start raising money after his beloved nan Lyn died of bowel cancer in February 2009 aged just 60.
As a passionate West Ham and England fan, he was aware his footballing hero Bobby Moore had died of bowel cancer and decided to do all his fundraising for in honour of Bobby and his nan.
His mum Donna said finding out he was to receive the honour was ‘surreal’.
“An award was mentioned ages ago and to know he was even being considered was special in itself. But then we didn’t hear much more until the beginning of November when a very official-looking letter arrived from the Cabinet Office.
“We had a quick peek, realised what it was and were pretty choked. When Jon got home from school, he looked at it but didn’t understand at first. And then the penny dropped. The first thing he said was ‘Why?’
“We’re all incredibly proud of him but his nan, who was the inspiration for all this, would have been so thrilled for him. She was a bit of a matriarch like Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders – fiercely proud of her family. She would have be doing cartwheels!”
Jonjo said: “I was really surprised and very proud to hear I was on the New Year’s Honours list. I didn’t even know what a British Empire Medal was! I never realised my fundraising would go this far.
“I'm really hoping my medal will help me raise more funds and awareness for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far.”
Jonjo will receive his inscribed British Empire Medal during a ceremony from the Lord Lieutenant of Kent later this year and will then be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
The BEM, which was reintroduced in 2012, rewards sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work.
For more details about Jonjo’s latest challenge, or to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/fornannyandbobby or text CAPT66 £? to 70070
Jonjo from Dartford, Kent, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list.
Jonjo, is the youngest person to receive the BEM in this year’s awards and one of the youngest ever to be given the honour.
Jonjo, started his football-themed fundraising walks five years ago and has raised £235,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.
He was inspired to start raising money after his beloved nan Lyn died of bowel cancer in February 2009 aged just 60.
As a passionate West Ham and England fan, he was aware his footballing hero Bobby Moore had died of bowel cancer and decided to do all his fundraising for in honour of Bobby and his nan.
His mum Donna said finding out he was to receive the honour was ‘surreal’.
“An award was mentioned ages ago and to know he was even being considered was special in itself. But then we didn’t hear much more until the beginning of November when a very official-looking letter arrived from the Cabinet Office.
“We had a quick peek, realised what it was and were pretty choked. When Jon got home from school, he looked at it but didn’t understand at first. And then the penny dropped. The first thing he said was ‘Why?’
“We’re all incredibly proud of him but his nan, who was the inspiration for all this, would have been so thrilled for him. She was a bit of a matriarch like Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders – fiercely proud of her family. She would have be doing cartwheels!”
Jonjo said: “I was really surprised and very proud to hear I was on the New Year’s Honours list. I didn’t even know what a British Empire Medal was! I never realised my fundraising would go this far.
“I'm really hoping my medal will help me raise more funds and awareness for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far.”
Jonjo will receive his inscribed British Empire Medal during a ceremony from the Lord Lieutenant of Kent later this year and will then be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
The BEM, which was reintroduced in 2012, rewards sustained, local contribution or innovative, high-impact work.
For more details about Jonjo’s latest challenge, or to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/fornannyandbobby or text CAPT66 £? to 70070