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Young funraiser Jonjo Heuerman scooped two gongs at British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards

Young funraiser Jonjo Heuerman has scooped two gongs at the British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards.

The 11-year-old was one of 23 youngsters and groups named as finalists in the awards which took place on October 5 in London.

The Wilmington resident, who won the over-all humanitarian award and fundraising award, lost his grandma Lyn to bowel cancer in 2009 and quickly decided he wanted to stop others from dying from the same disease.

Schoolboy fundraiser Jonjo Heuerman
Schoolboy fundraiser Jonjo Heuerman

Since her death, Jonjo has completed four charity walks for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.

Bobby Moore, who died of the same disease as his grandmother, is a hero of Jonjo’s.

The Leyton Cross Road resident said: “When my Nanny died I was really sad and my charity work really helped me. I like raising money for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK because it will help to save people from dying like her.

“I have had lots of fun and I have met lots of nice people who help me and some people that are not well and they say I help them. I am looking forward to my next big challenge in February and I hope I reach £250,000 soon.”

Jonjo has raised over £120,000 in funds for The Bobby Moore Fund, which will go towards Cancer Research UK’s vital research to beat bowel cancer..

Every walk he wears a special t-shirt and invites people to submit their lost loved ones’ name. He wears all of the names on his shirt and at the end of his walks he personally calls out all of the names at a memorial service.

Jonjo Heuerman with mum Donna and sister Megan
Jonjo Heuerman with mum Donna and sister Megan

Speaking at the awards, he said: “I didn’t really expect to win. I did the walks after my nan passed away from bowel cancer. It was a sad day – my sister wanted to do some fundraising and I decided to raise money as well.

“Sometimes it was hard to keep going on the walks – they were very tiring. But all the people behind me kept going, and that made me keep going. The money we raise is going to save many more lives.”

His next challenge, in February 2014, will be to dribble a ball from Southend United’s ground to West Ham through a number of Essex towns, passing Bobby Moore’s childhood home and school en route.

Mum Donna said: “I don’t think anyone in our family realised how determined and dedicated he would be to his charity mission or quite how big it would grow.

"The past two and a half years have been an incredible journey that has raised more money than he ever thought - his original target was £10,000.

“His ability to speak to individuals or crowds of tens of thousands of people to raise important awareness about bowel cancer is also amazing.

"We are so proud of his hard work and his Nanny would be incredibly proud of him too.”

To find out more visit www.fornannyandbobby.com

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