Community Heroes 2021: Child of courage - Cory Pygott

On June 17, Cory Pygott, then 14, suffered a fractured skull and bleeding when he fell while with his friends at the local park in Mynydd Isa.

Within ten minutes, an ambulance was there along with two air ambulances, one of which has a consultant onboard ready to put Cory into an induced coma if required.

But it was the actions of Cory's friends, his dad Steve believes, made sure his son had the best chance of survival.

Cory, who plays football for the New Saints academy, said: “It was severe to the point where if my friends and the north Welsh Ambulance Service hadn’t acted as quickly as they did, I’d be in a lot more serious condition. I was bleeding from my ears and was unconscious, they rang 999 and made sure I wasn’t choking on my tongue and put me in the recovery position.”

Steve, who nominated Cory for the award, added: "If his friends hadn’t acted as swift as they did it would have been a totally different outcome," he said.

"It wouldn't have mattered if a million ambulances had come if they hadn't done what they did in the first minutes.

"I don't know who programmed these kids but when it happened they all did the right thing."

But within 48 hours, although still groggy, Cory was making plans to raise money for the hospital and ambulance services.

Cory and his friends, who all attend Argoed High School, ended up raising £9,530 for the Air Ambulance, the Ambulance Service and Maelor children's ward through a sponsored walk from the park in Mynydd Isa to the hospital.

Proud dad Steve said: "He's always been a really good lad and community minded. In fact they're a really good group; conscientious and polite.

"The first thing he said when he came round was 'did I really have two air ambulances?' The response he got from the ambulance, the air ambulance and the staff at the hospital blew him away a bit.

"He said I'm doing a charity walk, and his mates said we're doing it with you. The way they did it was amazing."

Steve says he's sure Cory will want to dedicate his award to his friends who helped him on the day and joined him for the fundraising - Yazmin Richardson, Ieuan Allen, Ben Worrall, Clément Vick, James Brownbill, Isaac Godwin, Jac Jones, Lucca Jones and JJ Griffiths.

Steve added: “The way they conducted themselves on the walk was incredible. They ended up walking 14-miles and they never moaned once.

“They are a credit to themselves and their families. We’d like to thank the local community, family and friends for all their support. It’s been fantastic.

“Young people get bad press but these have been an inspiration.”

Highly Commended - Aria Hughes

Aria Hughes atop Snowdon.

A kind-hearted seven-year-old has been Highly Commended in the Child of Courage of the Year category.

Aria Hughes, of Wrexham, was nominated by dad Carl for her fundraising on behalf of Wrexham Maelor’s Intensive Care Unit, who have been under extreme pressures since the pandemic began.

In September, Aria climbed Snowdon and raised over £1,200 for the staff in the unit as a thank you for their hard work, dedication and sacrifice throughout the pandemic, whilst also thanking them on a personal level for saving her own Nan’s life earlier in the summer.

Carl said Aria's grandmother needing treatment gave extra emotional significance to the fundraising.

He said: "Aria is very close to her nan and she hasn't been able to see her for six months, which has been hard. She's been a little trooper."

But, even before this, Aria had been determined to raise money for hospital staff during the pandemic.

The Child of courage of the Year award is sponsored by Pendine Park.

The award-winning Pendine Park organisation has been serving the needs of the local community in Wrexham for nearly 36 years.

It was founded by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill, after they failed to find a suitable care for their elderly grandparents.

Mr Kreft said: “As a community-oriented organisation, we are proud to support the Leader’s Community Heroes Awards and the Child of Courage category chimes perfectly with our focus intergenerational work.

“The arts are like a golden thread running through everything we do. We were probably the first care organisation in the UK to employ an artist-in-residence and now also have a musician in residence.

“Our aim at all times is to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike.

“The past 20 months have been extremely difficult for everybody and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff who have been absolutely heroic throughout.”