THREE young community champions have been recognised at this year’s British Citizen Youth Awards (BCyA) for their extraordinary contribution to charity.

Richmond School students, 14-year old James Lunn, his brother Andrew, 12, and their friend Marcus Weston, 14, were honoured for their efforts at a formal presentation held at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, October 16.

It is the third award for the boys in recognition of their 300-mile Richmond to Richmond cycling challenge which raised £4,800 for the Butterwick Hospice.

Marcus has a host of health issues, being one of only 400 people worldwide living with Cardio-Facio Cutaneous Syndrome, a rare genetic condition. Undeterred, Marcus set his own challenge, learning to ride a specially adapted trike to ride 30 miles, one per day, around the school grounds.

Attended by 120 guests – including host, Rt. Hon. Lord Blunkett, patrons Dame Mary Perkins and Nicky Cox MBE, speaker Baroness Estelle Morris and presenter and patron, former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt – the British Citizen Youth Awards highlights individual acts of bravery, kindness and compassion from young people under the age of 18 across the UK.

The boys are invited to use the BCyA letters after their names as a post-nominal, in recognition of their positive impact on society.

Following the formal medal presentations, all guests were treated to an open-top lap of honour tour of the capital on a BCyA-branded double-decker bus, courtesy of Big Bus London, which has supported the BCyA since its inception.

After the awards, the boys were honoured to spend time with Baronness Harris of Richmond who gave them a behind-the-scenes tour of the House of Lords.

James Lunn said: ”It was a huge honour for us to receive the award and wonderful to experience this in the setting of the House of Lords. We were so humbled to hear the incredible stories of the other medallists and it has inspired us to do more for our community.”

Jenna Potter, headteacher at Richmond School, said: “I am constantly reminded that young people are such a force for good. It is a privilege to have them in our school and I am delighted to see them being rewarded."

Mike Faulkner, co-founder of the British Citizen Youth Awards, said: "The achievements of these three boys and their commitment to put something back into society, so impressed the Assessment Panel that they were moved to recognise the first-ever trio for a BCyA. The boys collectively endured for the good of others and they are worthy recipients of their specially minted bespoke medals, which are inscribed with the words ‘For the Good of the Country’."

Sarah Kernan, events fundraisier at the Butterwick Hospice, added: “On behalf of everyone at Butterwick Hospice Care, we would like to say a huge congratulations and thank you to Andrew, James and Marcus for raising such a fantastic sum for our charity. Their donation will ensure we can continue to provide palliative and family support to our patients and their families when they need us most. We’re are so grateful to the boys for all of their hard work – well done.”

A short video was produced of the awards, hosted at the House of Lords, and can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/GquJtDBT9Rs.