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WHEN 16-year-old Daisy Belsham came close to losing her mother, she thought nothing of stepping into her shoes to care for her younger siblings.

A student from Faringdon, she cared tirelessly for her brother Kenny, seven, and sister Alice, eight, while her mother Carol Stanton received life-saving treatment for a brain tumour diagnosed three years ago.

She was among dozens of inspirational young people honoured at a lunch last weekend hosted by the Vale of White Horse District Council at the Guildhall, Abingdon, to mark their achievements.

Daisy said: "The day I found out my mum nearly died I cried so much. She's going into hospital again this week but you just have to keep your head up high and look to the future.

"I'm quite good at blocking out my emotions. It's made me grow up a lot because everything was so different.

"But things happen and you just have to get on with it."

She said: "I have been quite responsible. It's mainly been making dinner, getting them ready for bed, taking them to the park, playing games when it's raining and just entertaining them.

"I think other 16-year-olds have more time on their hands.

"It's really nice to come here and for someone to realise how hard it's been."

Others were praised for their music, sporting and academic talents and also commitment to family and the community.

Wayne Tidbury, 25, of Radley, was among those nominated. He has spent much of his life caring for his profoundly disabled twin brother, Lee, while working hard to fulfil his dream of becoming a chef.

Mr Tidbury, who recently turned down a job at Jamie Oliver's new Italian restaurant in Oxford to care for his brother, said: "I feed him, give him his drugs, wash him and change his nappy most days. All the manual handling comes down to me because no one else can do it. The last four years has been hard because he's steadily been getting worse.

"It's my family though, so I wouldn't change it. No one else can really do it. I say to my wife, if I could change places with him I would, to let him experience life.

"If God deals you a bad hand, it's all about how you play it."

Charlie Gaylard, 18 and Christopher Chadwick, 17, of Ardington, set up a fortnightly youth club three years ago when they realised there was a shortage of activities for young people in their village.

With more than 60 members, it also attracts young people, aged eight to 14, from neighbouring villages.

Christopher said: "There is really good provision for young people in Wantage, but it's really concentrated on people from 14 upwards, so we set it up really for us and our friends and it's just got bigger and bigger. I have learned that as a young person you have a lot more power than you realise and that you can do something on your own and people will listen to you.

"We did what we did mainly for us and for our friends to have fun and to be recognised in this way is really humbling."

Nominee Violet Addis, 14, of Abingdon, battled with a serious disease affecting her hands and feet. She was put forward by her school, Our Lady's in Abingdon, for remaining 100 per cent committed to school while overcoming several operations.

Organiser and district council chairman Julie Mayhew-Archer handed certificates of achievement to all the young people. She said: "It was marvellous. There has been a real range in ages and we have had so many inspirational individuals to be proud of."

4:17pm Monday 28th April 2008

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