Courageous Caden nominated for Young Hero of the Year award

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A ten-year-old stem cell transplant recipient from Ballymoney is set to be honoured by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, at a digital awards celebration next month.

Caden Moore has been shortlisted for the John Petchey Young Hero of the Year award at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards 2020.

The prestigious Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards are back for their eighth year and will recognise the outstanding achievements of the volunteers, fundraisers, clinical supporters and donors who help the pioneering blood cancer charity save lives. The awards ceremony is usually held at the Tower of London, but with mass gatherings of this nature currently unable to take place there will be a digital celebration instead, where celebrities and other specially invited supporters will announce the winners of each category in specially pre-recorded films.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Caden, ten, from Ballymoney was diagnosed with very severe Aplastic Anaemia on June 8, 2017, and on July 28, 2017 he received a stem cell transplant from his older brother.

Caden on part of his challengeCaden on part of his challenge
Caden on part of his challenge

When Caden was first diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia, he needed to travel to three different hospitals for treatment. He left his home in Ballymoney and travelled to the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine. A few days later, he left Causeway Hospital and was transferred to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, before eventually going to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in England, for his life-saving stem cell transplant. This journey was a total of 530km.

Last year, to celebrate how far Caden has come in the three years since his diagnosis, he and his family set themselves a challenge to complete the same distance (530km) in the same time frame (51 days) by walking, running, rowing, surfing, swimming, cycling and any other creative way they could think of.

Speaking about the challenge, Caden’s mum, Sabrina, said: “We felt that it was very important to recognise the work of three charities - Angel Wishes, The Aplastic Anaemia Trust and Anthony Nolan. They have been very close to our hearts since Caden’s diagnosis and we want to support the amazing work that these charities do. This is a very difficult time, due to Covid-19, and these charities need our support now, more than ever.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“At the beginning of 2020, our friends from university set themselves monthly, #ChallengesForCaden, and have been fundraising for Caden’s chosen charities. When Caden wanted to start his own challenge, we had around 100 friends and family sign up to do it with us!”

Caden and his brother at the airport about to fly to England to have his transplantCaden and his brother at the airport about to fly to England to have his transplant
Caden and his brother at the airport about to fly to England to have his transplant

The Challenge raised over £9,000 and was split between his three charities.

Caden said: “When mummy told me I was nominated for this special award, I was shocked and very surprised. I couldn’t believe it! I was a very lucky boy; my brother was my bone marrow match and he is my hero. I just want to help other people to find their hero. I am super excited about the awards night and wish everyone good luck. Thank you Anthony Nolan for helping people like me have another chance at life.”

Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan, said: “It is remarkable to see how many people support our work to find a match for those in need of a stem cell transplant. Without them, none of our life-saving work would be possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Caden has shown tremendous commitment to Anthony Nolan by completing such a difficult challenge and by inspiring so many others to join him on his fundraising journey.”

CadenCaden
Caden

All winners will be revealed at 7pm on Thursday, February 11 at www.anthonynolan.org/awards

Anthony Nolan is the charity that finds matching stem cell donors for people with blood cancer and blood disorders and gives them a second chance at life. It also carries out ground-breaking research to save more lives and provide information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant, through its clinical nurse specialists and psychologists, who help guide patients through their recovery.

To see the full shortlist, and find out more about the charity visit www.anthonynolan.org/awards

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

* A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.  But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.
You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk 
With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.
Thank you


News you can trust since 1737
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice