We are incredibly proud to announce that Harrison Rylands, one of our inspirational Year 9 pupils, has been named Junior Charity Champion at the 2025 Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards.

 

The glittering ceremony took place at The Village Hotel on Wednesday 24th April and celebrated individuals from across Warrington who go above and beyond in their communities. Hosted by Hits Radio’s Leanne Campbell, the evening brought together finalists from a wide range of categories, including health heroes, education leaders, sporting achievers, and of course, charity champions.

 

Harrison’s award recognises the outstanding contribution he has made through his tireless fundraising efforts. Over the past few years, he has shown exceptional compassion, drive and resilience – raising thousands of pounds for causes close to his heart. Most recently, Harrison completed the demanding 22-mile Ullswater Way hike in the Lake District, raising an impressive £1,240 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. The challenge took Harrison and his mum Louise eight hours to complete, navigating tough terrain with unwavering determination.

 

Alder Hey has been a constant presence in Harrison’s life, having provided him with care since he was just eight weeks old, when he underwent surgery for a congenital cataract. As he approaches the age at which he will be discharged from their care, Harrison has been determined to give something back to the hospital that has supported him for over a decade.

 

His latest hike followed on from earlier fundraising achievements, including a sponsored climb up Mount Snowdon and a campaign that raised over £3,000 to install defibrillators at local venues, including the Chapelford Farm Pub and McDonald’s in Gemini. Harrison was also a finalist at last year’s Warrington Guardian Education Awards in recognition of this earlier work.

 

Winning the Junior Charity Champion title this year is a truly well-deserved honour. It celebrates not just the funds Harrison has raised, but the spirit of generosity, courage and community that he brings to everything he does.

 

And Harrison isn’t stopping here. He already has plans to continue his fundraising efforts this summer, with details to be confirmed in the coming weeks. We will be sharing updates as his next challenge takes shape.

 

The entire school community is immensely proud of Harrison and this latest accolade. His actions serve as a powerful reminder of how one young person’s determination and empathy can have a lasting impact on the lives of others. We look forward to supporting him as he continues his journey and hope his story inspires others to make a difference in their own way.

 

Congratulations, Harrison – your achievement is an inspiration to us all.