A ten-year-old boy from North Yorkshire has received a national youth citizenship award for his bravery in dealing with facial disfigurement and helping others with the condition.
Oliver Gatenby was presented with a British Citizen Youth Award for the work he has done to highlight work of the Birthmark Support Group.
Oliver received his award at a ceremony in Westminster hosted by former Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt and afterwards met his MP Rishi Sunak
Born with a rare birthmark known as a venous malformation on his face, Oliver, of Low Worsall, near Yarm, has shown strength, determination and courage in dealing with multiple operations to reduce the swelling.
He also raised more than £2,600 for the Birthmark Support Group, which helped pay for a new ultrasound machine for the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where Oliver receives treatment .
The bulk of the money was raised by doing a 101km charity bike ride through Yorkshire with his father Andy in just four-and-a-half hours.
Oliver said it had been very exciting to attending the ceremony in Westminster with his family. “It was a really fun day that we all enjoyed a lot,”he added
Mr Sunak said: “It was great to be able to meet Oliver and his family in Westminster on what was a special day. Oliver is a brave young man who has adopted the most positive and praiseworthy attitude. He fully deserves this honour.”
The British Citizen Awards were established in 2015 and recognise individuals who have done extraordinary things in their local community.