2022 Winner
Mila Sneddon
Cancer sufferer who had to endure treatment in isolation – and whose bravery touched the nation.
Mila became a symbol for childhood bravery in a time of national crisis when a photo of her kissing her dad through her kitchen window featured in the Duchess of Cambridge’s lockdown photo project.
The six-year-old, from Stenhousemuir was being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when the first lockdown started. Her frontline worker dad, Scott, 52, and sister had to stay away from the family home for seven weeks to keep her safe – the only way they could be in contact was behind glass.
One of their meetings was captured in a now famous photograph, Shielding Mila, which led to a real-life meeting with the Duchess of Cambridge.
Since then the little girl has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy but always had a smile on her face. She’s recently finished treatment and been declared cancer-free.
But her bravery continues to inspire others, with the rest of her family, including mum Lynda, 39, and big sister Jodi, 18, fundraising for Blood Cancer UK and pals from school taking part in Race for Life in her honour too.