Gifted Alex wins national award

Alex Dakin, aged 16, from Heath Hayes, was shortlisted from hundreds of candidates across the country after being nominated by his teacher Amanda Holmes.

Kingsmead Technology College student Alex was invited, with his parents Sharon and Jeremy, to attend the final award ceremony at the Ritz in London.

He was one of six young people invited to the final and was stunned when he was named the winner of the Gareth Evans award for achievement.

The award was made possible by the family and friends of Gareth Evans, a gifted young man who was helped by NAGC through his formative years. He went on to study maths and computer science at Cambridge, but died prematurely.

The Gareth Evans Achievement Award celebrates his life, the achievements of NAGCs young members and the real difference their gifts and talents make to the community.

The charity's vice-patron Sir Robin Belchin handed Alex a trophy and framed certificate in front of an audience of 50 people.

Alex is currently in remission and despite his illness has continued with his school work and sporting commitments, both personally and with coaching and encouraging other youngsters in the community.

With the help of his school pals, he has raised more than £5,000 for the teenage cancer ward at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Alex helped organise a family day at a local cricket club, plus a fancy dress non-uniform day and a sponsored head shave at school.

He first became ill in July last year and doctors sent him for an X-ray. They discovered he had leukaemia in his chest and immediately started chemotherapy.

Even during his treatment, Alex kept coming in to school to catch up with his GCSE work. This summer he will sit nine GCSEs and hopes to study his A-levels.

He said: "I never thought I had a chance. But when they announced my name as the winner I nearly fell off my chair. It was such a proud moment for me and my family. I'm in remission now and making good progress. I am still the same old Alex that I was before."