Kirsty Waugh, 12, named Pride of Britain Child of Courage

What happened?

Kirsty Waugh, 12, from Tunbridge Wells, won a Child of Courage award at the 2026 Pride of Britain Awards.

In 2024, when she was 10, Kirsty began having problems with her eyesight and memory, and she felt very tired. In November 2024 she was suddenly sick and was taken to hospital. An MRI scan found a brain tumour. Her father, Mat, says it is benign.

What treatment has she had?

A seven-hour operation could not remove much of the tumour. Kirsty nicknamed it “Terry”. She then began 70 weeks of chemotherapy.

At the end of last year, doctors said the chemotherapy had stopped working, although it had restored much of her eyesight. She started a new 85-week plan. About 17 weeks in, she had an allergic reaction. Her family is waiting for a new plan.

How did she raise money?

Crochet for Cancer. Kirsty’s vision was impaired, but she crocheted a triangle of bunting for every chemotherapy session. The campaign raised more than £120,000 for Children With Cancer UK.

My Name Is Kirsty. Her next idea came from her own name. “She said, ‘Why don’t I just ask people called Kirsty?’” her father recalled.

She set out to find other Kirstys and map them online to raise money for brain tumour research. She has now connected with more than 14,000 Kirstys in more than 50 countries, across all seven continents. Donations through her website have raised more than £125,000 for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity.

Why does it matter?

Kirsty’s campaign aims to find kinder treatments for children with cancer. It has turned a shared first name into a worldwide network of support.

“This year I’m trying to show how much everyone cares about children with brain tumours,” she said.

Another 2026 honour went to Nicky and Ben Relf, who support families of children in hospital with cancer. See every 2026 winner and regional finalist.