PRIDE OF THE COTSWOLDS AWARDS 2018
CHILD OF THE YEAR WINNER: EDIE LAYFIELD

Eight-year-old Edie has stayed strong in the face of her life-threatening illness.

Diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease at the age of four, she has had to endure years of dialysis, continuing medical treatment, scans and assessments as well as a kidney transplant two years ago.

But throughout her challenging childhood Edie, pictured with Newquest events director Sue Griffiths, has always been committed to helping others, and she works hard to achieve this through her involvement with numerous fundraising projects. Last year she managed to involve her whole school in a project to raise funds to rebuild a boat park after it burned down.

Even when she was in hospital for almost a year after she was diagnosed, she used the time to draw pictures that were made into postcards, tote bags and prints to raise money for Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal for Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital.

When asked what motivated her to continue her good work, Edie said: “I try to help people not to feel as bad as I did when I was ill.”

CHILD OF THE YEAR RUNNERS UP: ISLA ROSE WIGMORE, OLLY YOUNG