A 13-YEAR-OLD girl who has raised thousands of pounds for a hospice following her dad's death has been recognised.

Keira Arnold, who has amassed more than £36,000 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Royton, has won the Pride of Manchester Teenager of Courage Award.

The huge amount of funds has been delivered to the hospice through "Keira's Wishes", her fundraising scheme which provides patients with their last wishes.

Recently, Keira also used some of her funds to buy smart TVs for each of the 12 patient beds in the new in-patient unit.

And she has also organised activities such as virtual markets to support businesses and the hospice during the pandemic.

Keira has utilised her craft skills to make and sell anything from cards and baubles to dream catchers, wreaths and bookmarks, with all the proceeds going to "Keira’s Wishes".

Keira was initially surprised with the award by Hits Radio presenters Gemma Atkinson and Wes Butters before she attended the official ceremony in Manchester hosted by TV star, Kym Marsh,

Keira started her fundraising journey for Dr Kershaw’s after her dad Stephen was cared for there before he died aged 28 after he suffered with cancer.

Her sole aim is to help make special memories for patients and their families.

She said: “I am really shocked to have won this wonderful award, it's so nice to know that people like what I do in my fundraising.

"Helping other families makes me really happy, especially in difficult times. It inspires me to keep going.”

Despite her impressive fundraising total, Keira says her target is to keep going until she raises £1m to make more wishes come true.

She added: “That would be my one wish, so that I can help even more people. But I’m not really planning on stopping at all. I just want the best for everyone.”

This year, Keira was also named as Oldham’s Young Citizen of the Year 2020 and presented with The Mayor of Oldham’s Appreciation Award.

Keira’s mum Stacey accompanied her along with her grandma, Julie Smith, to the awards

She said: “When I heard Keira had won The Pride Of Manchester Award I was completely shocked but so very happy for her!

"Her fundraising to help other people is what makes Keira her happiest but I think it's lovely that somebody took the time to nominate her and show Keira she really does make a difference.”

Dr Kershaw’s CEO, Joanne Sloan, said: “Keira’s support, dedication and enthusiasm for her fundraising has been awe-inspiring over the past few years.

"For a young person of her age to be so committed and so supportive of our hospice and our patients is just so wonderful to see. Keira truly deserves the Pride of Manchester Award, she is an inspirational young lady, and we can’t thank her enough for all she does for us and for the special memories she gives to our patients and their families.”

In previous years Keira has received a number of awards for her extraordinary support and fundraising efforts for Dr Kershaw’s, being named as National Young Fundraiser of the Year in 2018, followed by being presented the Mayor of Manchester Special Recognition Award and the prestigious Diana Award.

If you are interested in following in Keira’s footsteps and taking on your own fundraising challenge to support the vital care that takes place at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, call the hospice’s fundraising team on 0161 624 9984 or visit www.drkh.org.uk.