2024 Winner

Caleb Stirrat

 

Youngster diagnosed with terminal cancer is the inspiration behind a charity helping other families with desperately ill children

Caleb is a triplet. He and sisters Poppy and Alyssia were born prematurely at 27 weeks after his parents underwent IVF.
In 2019 he was diagnosed with a rare atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour which has a less than 50/50 chance of survival. He had proton beam therapy in the US but the tumour returned in 2020 and his parents were told it was terminal.

Caleb, now eight, has helped his parents launch a charity to support other families facing palliative care for their children. Caleb’s Trio of Hope has already raised £17,000.

Mum Karen, from Clydebank, says, “We have a fund to help families create memories with their child and also provide support when they have passed away. We’re always going to be there down the line.” After an operation to remove his tumour Caleb has been treated with a trial drug and his condition remains stable. Karen says, “We can’t believe how far he’s come. I’m not going to say it’s not hard because some days you’re so tired you’re in tears. But he is remarkable in everything he does and achieves.”