A TEAM of people helping a sick schoolboy were praised at a ceremony to highlight the achievements of children with special educational needs and the adults who support them.

People including teachers, doctors, parents and blood cancer charity workers, who worked together to help Oscar Saxelby-Lee after he was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, received the Generation CAN Symphony award.

Oscar, five, has been having hospital treatment for seven months and his plight attracted international attention after Pitmaston Primary School in St John’s set up a two-day donor drive which attracted nearly 5,000 to sign up to the stem cell transplant register.

In an emotional video, Oscar’s mum Olivia Saxelby said: “We can’t thank you all enough for the support you’ve given and shown, not only Oscar for the past seven months, but Jamie and myself too.

“Each one of you have empowered Oscar in so many different ways. You gave Oscar a second chance at life which is incredible.

”He remains fighting for his life but we know, with every single support mechanism there is, which Oscar has, we can get him home again.”

Pitmaston head Kate Wilcock said: “What an emotional, incredible evening. We are in a room full of inspirational people all here to celebrate resilience and individual achievements. It’s one of our proudest moments.”

Lisa Nugent, head of donor recruitment at DKMS, added: “It is so humbling to be part of this evening to represent the team that is here on behalf of the wider community of Worcester who came together in their thousands to show support and love for Oscar.”

Also winning a Symphony award were Integrated Therapy Solutions, including Karen Sheffield, Lucy Bates and Lucy Upton, who work with children with severe feeding difficulties.

The achievements of children and young people were also celebrated at the event at the University of Worcester Arena. Among them were youngsters who had worked hard despite struggles with mobility or social communication, and those who had made progress against the odds or who had faced their own personal challenge.

Adults who helped support them were also honoured at the event on Thursday, July 11.

The audience enjoyed a performance from Lost Voice Guy, a disabled comedian who shot to fame as a winner of Britain’s Got Talent.

While Chadsgrove School Choir entertained by performing songs from The Greatest Show.

Award founder Hannah Moloney said: “This is about bringing everybody together and focusing on the most important thing and celebrating the importance of young people and making a difference so their futures are changed.”

READ MORE: Robot lets Oscar joins in school classes from his hospital bedREAD MORE: Pitmaston Primary School wins Worcestershire Education Award