Latest news with #Florrie
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Our children of courage who are the heart of the Pride of Britain awards
As we launch the search for more remarkable young people, we look back at the past winners who find silver linings in their tough lives and bring a touch of magic to the awards Young Florrie Bark and Jacob Newson faced challenges that would overwhelm most adults. But despite all the difficulties they face in daily life, last year's Pride of Britain winners and their supportive families have devoted themselves to helping others. TikTok sensation Florrie has raised £200,000 with her Bemorefab Children's Cancer Charity, while Jacob The Pilot has raised £168,000 for the hospice that cared for his mum Andrea and the RAF Benevolent Fund, but has set himself a top target of £210,000. Both Florrie and Jacob, 11, also want to care for other cancer survivors., The young flying-mad schoolboy from Leeds has always said he wants to be a fighter pilot when he grows up, but now Jacob says, 'I also want to be a doctor so I can find a cure for cancer. While Florrie, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia aged just six and had a very poor prognosis, is delighted to be celebrating another birthday. She says proudly, 'I am nine next month.' And she has lots of plans for the future. 'I want to be like Barbie and have lots of jobs – I'll be a cancer nurse like my nurses, and maybe a vet, and a singer.' There's never a dry eye in the house when the stories of bravery and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds are told about the Pride of Britain children. Every child who is nominated for a Pride of Britain award is a winner, but some are truly remarkable – and unforgettable. When last year's winners came back to launch Pride of Britain's nominations last Friday aboard P&O Cruises Brittania, Child of Courage Florrie Bark and Young Fundraiser of the Year Jacob brought the fun with them. Despite having just got over shingles, Florrie made the most of the special day with all the TV cameras, and her infectious giggle could be heard all round the ship. All of the winners were sent on holidays of a lifetime by Pride of Britain partner P&O Cruises, but unfortunately Florrie's gruelling treatment for cancer caused irreparable damage to her lungs, and has meant her trip is delayed. 'They're holding the holiday for us to the Caribbean until after we get the call for Florrie's lung transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital,' explains dad Andrew Bark, from Corby, Northants. Florrie can't wait to be able to have a normal life again, 'I want to just be doing everything that I want, like everything I used to be able to do. I just want to do everything!' Having already lost her hair a few times after several rounds of chemo, now her hair is coming back curly, although she's brought a long wig for the day which looks just like her old locks. Mum Stacey says, 'After the first round of chemo, Florrie's hair came back white and really straight, and then it came back dark, and this time it's come back curly and I think it's going to stay this time!' While she was in hospital Florrie started posting funny and inspiring content on TikTok, which has won her 330k followers, and many well wishers have helped the family with their sterling fundraising efforts, including Henry Moore who is walking from Manchester to Ibiza in his flip flops. Florrie's dad Andrew says, 'He's on day 65 and passed through Barcelona and has so far raised just over £40,000 with Gift Aid.' Explaining where Be More Fab came from, Florrie says, 'Fab – That's my initials, Florence Ava Bark.' Her older brother Freddie, 11, sits patiently and doesn't seem to mind his sister getting all the attention. Mum Stacey reveals with a laugh, 'Freddie wants to change his middle name to Andrew so that he's a Fab as well. At the moment he's a Fnub!' READ MORE: Pride of Britain launches with huge nationwide hunt for amazing unsung heroes After the awards last year, there was some controversy over where Florrie was planning to display her precious trophy. 'It's in the living room,' she says. 'But I want it in my bedroom! However her dad points out there's no space left. 'I don't know where it would even go!' Young Jacob also has a special shelf in his house for his award. 'I've got a stack of trophies,' says the lively youngster. Jacob's fundraising adventures have taken him and his dad Andy up and down mountains including Ben Nevis and the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and also the highest peak in North Africa and they've walked across the Pyrenees from France to Spain. This year he and his dad Andy plan to ride across Germany. 'I love seeing the sights and traveling,' says Jacob. His dad coughs. Jacob adds quickly, 'And spending time with my dad.' Andy reveals, 'We've raised £110,000 for St Gemma's Hospice who supported us – and still support Jacob. And we're currently at £58,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund, but the plan is to get that to £100,000.' 'And then I'm retiring,' pipes up Jacob. His exhausted dad unsurprisingly looks slightly relieved. Jacob has sage advice for this year's children who find themselves winning Pride of Britain when it comes to celeb-spotting. 'If you get any opportunities to see anyone, just take it – grab life by the horns.' It's a mantra the 11-year-old lives by as reveals his secret to achieving his challenges. 'My mum,' he says. 'I just think about her every step of the way.' Past winners of Child of Courage Ravi Adelekan, 2023 After life-saving surgery to reduce the size of a non-cancerous tumour on his brain stem in September 2021, the then-eight-year-old Ravi Adelekan from Brighton had to learn to walk and feed himself again. Yet despite this Ravi was determined to help others and set out to raise £250,000 with Ravi's Dream in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity and Brainstrust. Mum Bethan said: 'We listened to The Greatest Showman throughout Ravi's treatment, and he came up with the idea to make a charity single.' Stars including Paloma Faith, Damon Albarn and Jimmy Somerville recorded a charity music video of the song A Million Dreams, which raised £82,000. Ravi continues to have scans to monitor the tumour, and has undergone a number of procedures, but he doesn't let his challenges hold him back. Bethan says: 'Ravi loves encouraging people to believe that no matter what life throws your way, your dreams can still come true.' Emmie Narayn-Nicholas, 2020 Manchester schoolgirl patient Emmie and her family were inspired to provide meals, support and comfort to the families of other seriously ill children. Emmie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at 11 years old in 2017, spent 100 days and nights at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and had two and a half years of treatment before it finished in 2019. While in hospital, Emmie saw how patients' families struggled with being away from home and had to live off snacks and fizzy drinks. That was when she came up with the idea of making wholesome, home-cooked meals for the families. In June 2018, she started Emmie's Kitchen next to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, which is open to all parents with a child staying at the hospital. Since starting, it has served more than 3,500 people freshly prepared dishes. 'Emmie serves at tables, slices bread and chats with the families,' says mum Eve. 'Many people ask to meet her, the girl behind this brilliant idea, and she takes it all in her stride.' Joe Rowlands, 2018 It was a bright winter's morning when Joe, then 13, and his dad Paul, 51, took their kayak out for a paddle off Anglesey in North Wales. They were about a mile and a half from shore when the kayak started to fill with water and capsize. Paul tried tipping it back over but it wouldn't stay upright. So he told Joe to sit on the upturned vessel as he tried to 'kick it like a float' toward a tiny island, Ynys Dulas. After struggling for 30 minutes, Paul realised their best chance of survival was to swim for managed to reach a cluster of rocks and Joe clambered to safety, but Paul developed hypothermia and passed out. Risking his life, Joe dived into the sea and dragged his unconscious father onto the rocks. He performed CPR until Paul came round. As they huddled together, brave Joe kept his father awake until two and a half hours later, until they were rescued by the RNLI. Paul says, 'He was just a boy but he acted with a maturity, calmness and courage beyond his years.' Bailey Matthews, 2015 Eight-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Bailey Matthews reminded the world of the true meaning of sport when he pushed away his walking frame and took his first stuttering steps towards a triathlon finishing line Captured on video by a spectator, it was an inspirational moment that went viral and was seen by millions around the world, from his native Nottinghamshire to New Zealand. With dogged determination, and despite falling over twice, Bailey, who was born nine weeks premature, scampered over the line and into the arms of his proud dad. Bailey was last to finish the 100m swim, 4km bike ride and 1.3km run in the Castle Howard Triathlon in North Yorkshire in July, but was roared home by a huge crowd of spectators. Mum Julie has been stunned by the global reaction to Bailey's triathlon feat. She says: 'We never thought the video would go as big as it did. But we have never told Bailey he can't do anything.' Terri Calvesbert, 2004 Terri Calvesbert was just two years old when she was horrifically burned during a fire at her home, started accidentally by her mother's cigarette. Ninety per cent of Terri's body was covered in agonising burns with only the area covered by her wet nappy being spared. She was left with no hair, lips, nose or fingers and just one foot. She will need surgery for the rest of her life. Dad Paul says: 'The doctors told us she nearly died so many times.' But since then, the brave little girl from Ipswich has shown courage beyond her years in coping with the terrible injuries. Paul says: 'She inspires me every day.' Sadly Terri's mum Julie was racked with guilt, and left home a few weeks after the accident. They have not heard from her since. Bubbly Terri has endured many major operations since then but her biggest challenge was starting school. 'I worried how other children would react, but she loved it,' says Paul. How to nominate Amazing young people are at the heart of Pride of Britain, and over the past 26 years, some truly incredible children and teenagers have inspired the nation, despite their tender you know a youngster who deserves an award, like the previous winners on this page, there are two categories where you can nominate Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year award is for inspirational fundraisers aged 17 or under. Winners may have overcome immense challenges of their own to raise money, or gone to extraordinary lengths on behalf of Child or Teenager of Courage award is for a young person who has battled the odds to help others, or performed an incredibly courageous act to save someone in Pride of Britain team will consider every nomination, before compiling a shortlist for the judging now at
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Supermarkets including Sainsbury's run out of kitchen staple as shoppers spot huge shortage on shelves
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERMARKETS are facing a sardine shortage - leaving cat and dog owners scrambling to find tins for their pets. The problem has been caused by poor fishing conditions off the coast of Morocco, where around 60 per cent of the UK's sardine supply is sourced. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Poor fishing conditions have resulted in shortages of tinned sardines in supermarkets Credit: Getty Retailers are trying to manage stock but customers are still finding shelves empty across different regions of the country. One Schnauzer dog owner said on 'Florrie is down to her last few cans of Sardines. There appears to be a shortage in the supermarkets.' Another added: 'Have @sainsburys stopped selling sardines in spring water? Can't find them anywhere. My dog eats a tin a day.' Meanwhile a cat owner asked Sainsbury's: 'Have you stopped selling tinned sardines, specifically tinned sardines in spring water? 'I buy a lot (for our cats) and they are the ONLY reason I order deliveries from Sainsbury's (there isn't a store near us) because I can't get them anywhere else.' Meanwhile, another concerned owner added on social media site 'I'm a prolific buyer of tinned sardines in tomato sauce (solely down to my 2 dogs sharing a can to have with their kibble each evening). "But recently they've been really hard to get hold of and there's empty shelves in multiple supermarkets around my area (York / North Yorkshire). 'Does anyone happen to know why and whether the apparent supply issues are likely to persist?' Various own-brand sardine products are out of stock on Asda's grocery site, including tins containing sunflower oil, brine and tomato sauce, while Tesco and Morrisons have also run out of some lines, including branded versions by John West and Graal. It's understood that sardine supplies in Morocco are currently very limited, with the problem being put down to overfishing as well as extreme weather conditions linked to climate change. Morrisons' Supply Chain Crisis: The Impact of Ransomware The British Retail Consortium said: 'Supply of tinned sardines has been impacted by fishing conditions in Morocco. 'Retailers are adept at managing supply, and will do all they can to minimise the impact on consumers.' SUPERMARKET SHORTAGES It's not the first time supermarket shelves have been left empty due to a national shortage. This month M&S has had to temporarily suspend several of its meal deals and sweets due to a prolonged cyberattack that continues to disrupt its operations. Now in its third week, the ongoing cyber incident has led to major stock availability challenges, limiting the retailer's capacity to provide meal deal options in stores. In March, Brits faced a national banana shortage due to a storm disrupting the route of cargo ships to the UK - forcing Tesco and M&S to have empty shelves. A shortage of grapes also rocked shops in December due to faltering harvest yields in Spain. Frustrated shoppers took to the internet to complain about the absence of the common kitchen staple. One customer wrote: "Tesco, why are there no grapes at your Melton store? I haven't been able to get any in my deliveries for weeks!" December also saw Morrisons get hit with food shortages after a widespread ransomware attack disrupted its operations. The cyber incident caused software issues that led to a shortage of fresh produce, including fruit and vegetables. Meanwhile, in November Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S were cleared of the popular creamy dip taramasalata. The shortage was caused by industrial action at food manufacturer Bakkavor which led to a huge disruption in supply. Richard Madely shared his outrage on this morning's Good Morning Britain , exclaiming: "Judy likes Taramasalata at least once a week, but the factory is on strike!" Best Items to Buy In Bulk in a Supermarket Poppy Needham, a pricing pro at Approved Food, shared her top tips on what to bulk-buy. Cupboard essentials Toilet roll, kitchen paper, tissues, cleaning products and laundry supplies. Polly explained: 'A 24-pack of loo roll or a large bottle of washing-up liquid will save you money in the long run.' Starchy staples Rice, pasta, quinoa, oats, lentils, and beans have long shelf lives and form the basis of many meals. 'Buying larger bags of 5kg or more can significantly reduce the cost per gram,' said Poppy. Chicken Large packs of chicken, or even cheap frozen chicken breasts in bulk. Tinned goods From tinned tomatoes, tuna, salmon, any soup, and even fruits and veg. Poppy commented: 'Stock up when you see offers on multipacks or catering-size tins. Misc Cooking oils, spices, seasonings, tea, coffee, and drinks - these items keep their quality for a long time. As for sweet treats, larger or sharing packs of chocolate are usually better value than single-serve portions. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
