Moray & Banffshire Heroes 2024: Secondary school pupil shortlist revealed!
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Here is your shortlist for the secondary school pupil award. Voting closes on Sunday, March 24.
VOTE for your Heroes NOW below
Kaidey Geddes
Buckie teenager Kaidey Geddes is hoping to channel a lifetime of health worries and the loss of her younger brother into becoming a nurse.
Kaidey was five years old when her brother Harry was born with severe complex needs. Sadly he died three years later. Throughout her lifetime Kaidey has been praised for showing strength and courage for herself, both her parents and her older brother.
She’s helped raise thousands of pounds for the charities that supported her family.Her mum Lynne said: “I was diagnosed with a neurological disorder last year and am unable to work, but even in the darkest of days Kaidey has found a way to stay strong, find the energy to smile and do her best to make it fun. She works in a care home and a chip shop and has applied to university to train as a nurse. I know she’ll excel at whatever she does.”
Kaidey said: “It’s so rewarding to be able to help. I hope to be a children’s or mental health nurse. I’ve applied to four universities, so fingers crossed.”
Her mum concluded: “Kaidey has learnt so much about the practical and emotional side of nursing from all the time that she has spent in hospitals or at appointments with Harry or me. She has so much knowledge and love to share. We’re all very proud of her.”
Abbie Howie
Eighteen-year-old Abbie Howie’s sheer grit and determination to get on with her life despite the diagnosis of a rare form of cancer has led to her being shortlisted for a Heroes award.
The Elgin High School pupil now uses a prosthetic leg following an amputation last year to remove the cancerous growth.Her nomination said: “Abbie is an inspiration and needs to be recognised for being a true hero. She doesn’t let anything stop her and no matter what’s happening she does it with a smile on her face.”
Abbie has recently passed her driving test and is hoping for a placement at Glasgow or Edinburgh University to study veterinary medicine.
She said: “It’s so touching to hear that someone sees me as an inspiration. I just want to make the most of life and that’s the way I’ve always been. My mum [Lindsay] and my dad [Sean] are both optimists. My mum is very emotionally supportive and my dad loves to get stuck in and help with the practical stuff so I’m very lucky. I’ve had to make a few tweaks to how I live my life and my sister, Kayleigh, has been a huge support through all of this; I’m a very lucky person.”
UHI Moray is sponsoring the secondary school pupil award.
Jackie Andrews, head of Academic Partnerships, said: “UHI Moray is once again, proud to support the Moray & Banffshire Heroes awards. UHI Moray works closely with our local secondary schools to provide opportunities for young people to challenge themselves through a wide and varied Senior Phase programme which includes vocational qualifications, as well as Higher National and Degree modules for those in their S6 year. As a proactive and progressive local partnership, we want to ensure that regardless of preferred destination or the path to get there, all Senior Phase pupils can, if they wish, benefit from this experience.
“This is why we sponsor the secondary school pupil award. I would urge everyone to vote for the nominees demonstrating that we are very proud of their achievements.”
