Special moment on a night to remember at Examiner Community Awards

Jun 8 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THREE youngsters summed up the whole essence of the Examiner Community Awards.

Callum Parkinson, Cobie Booth and Harry Crowther were all smiles as they shared a very special honour for courage last night at the Galpharm Stadium.

Their stories were just three of many moving tributes at a night which celebrated the very best of Huddersfield.

It was a night that they, and so many others, will never forget

Courage Award

COBIE BOOTH, HARRY CROWTHER, and CALLUM PARKINSON

IT was the moment that summed up what the Examiner Community Awards are all about.

The awards have been running for 10 years now, and in all that time the judges have made a decision in every category.

But last night became a first when three young boys who have each shown amazing courage and been an inspiration to us all shared the stage as joint winners.

The judges were totally unable to pick just one winner as all three were so deserving and so Harry Crowther, Cobie Booth and Callum Parkinson became joint winners of the Courage Award.

And there was a standing ovation from the entire room – and a few tears – as the three boys took to the stage.

Eleven-year-old Harry Crowther has a condition called atypical progeria syndrome which is an extremely rare genetic disorder.

It means Harry’s body is ageing five times faster than his friends.

He has already been diagnosed with arthritis and takes painkillers four times a day to relieve him from aches and pains.

But Harry has refused to let it hold him back. He loves to skateboard, swim, bike-ride and climb trees like all his mates.

He has now massively raised the profile of his condition. More than 3,000 people have become members of the Facebook group Atypical Progeria Syndrome – Raising Awareness website as a result of his courage in talking about his condition.

And one person who added some words to the website described Harry as “the coolest dude I know’’.

Harry said: “I’m just so happy that all three of us won.

“I’m really happy and surprised to be here, but it’s a great night.”

Cobie Booth was just two when his mum and dad noticed he had developed a limp and was experiencing pain in his side.

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