‘OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES’
TWO young people from Scotland have been awarded Rotary Young Citizens Awards for 2024 for their outstanding commitments to their communities:
- Ian Duncan (13, Edinburgh), a prominent ‘frame runner’ with Cerebral Palsy, was awarded for climbing the equivalent height of Ben Nevis in steps to raise money for the local Riding for Disabled centre in Muirfield.
- Rhys McCole (23, Inverclyde), currently the world’s only para-disabled competitive boxer, was awarded for his commitment to charity endeavours and volunteer work whilst facing numerous health challenges. These include setting up his own boxing programme with local schools, and supporting organisations Inch by Inch, Fighting for Autism and Enable Scotland.
A 13-year-old boy from Edinburgh has been designated a ‘Sporting Hero’ after winning a prestigious Rotary Young Citizen Award.
Ian Duncan was named a ‘Rotary Young Citizen Sporting Hero’ after climbing the equivalent height of Ben Nevis in steps to raise money for the local Riding for Disabled (RDA) centre in Muirfield.
Ian lives with Cerebral Palsy, which impacts his mobility, coordination and balance. Since the age of three, Ian has benefited from Hippotherapy at RDA Muirfield, a physical, occupational and speech therapy which utilises the natural gait and movement of a horse to provide motor and sensory input.
Ian is a prominent ‘Frame Runner’, which is a form of adaptive running which uses a ‘trike’ to support the athlete’s body, giving them the sensation of free movement. Ian proved a natural at frame running, and has proven committed to training in all weathers – even making the 30-mile round trip to his training site near Edinburgh, twice a week.
The training sessions have given Ian confidence, freedom and friendship, and he has played a pivotal role in growing the club to a team of six. In addition to helping support the club’s growth, Ian also took part in a medical study based at Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh (the university collaborated with the East Lothian club to develop the squad).
The study, funded by Action Medical Research, looked at the impact of frame running on the health and wellbeing of individuals with walking difficulties.
Ian’s natural talent for dressage has seen him take part in a number of UK-wide events, resulting in him finishing third in the virtual National Championships, riding the mechanical horse Oreo – a first for the competition.
To support his local RDA centre, Ian challenged himself to climb the 8,810 steps that represent Scotland’s highest mountain – Ben Nevis. In doing so, Ian raised a fantastic £1,755, ensuring more young people can benefit from Hippotherapy.
Ian received his award on Saturday 20th April from two former winners, Bella Field and Katriona Goodsell, at the Rotary Young Citizen Awards ceremony in Alcester, Warwickshire, home of Rotary GB&I.
Ian was nominated for his Rotary Young Citizen Award by the Rotary Club of Braids.
Rotarian Pauline Skinner said: “It is fantastic to hear that Ian has won the Rotary Young Citizen Sporting Hero award. Through his work with his athletics club he has raised the profile of frame running in Edinburgh.
“His fundraising for RDA has enabled others to share the benefits of horse riding. He has shown that anything is possible.”
Ian was chosen as a 2024 winner alongside eight other young people. Now in its 17th Anniversary year, the Rotary Young Citizen Awards was launched in 2007 to celebrate the amazing achievements of young people across Great Britain and Ireland, many of whom have assumed important responsibilities at a very young age. Nominations are put forward by Rotary Clubs.
Rhys McCole, a 23-year old from Gourock, Inverclyde, has been awarded a Rotary Young Citizen Peacemaker Award 2024 for his dedication to community service and leadership.
The award recognises Rhys’s commitment to charitable endeavours and volunteer work, despite facing numerous health challenges, including holes in his heart, Mears Irlen syndrome, Auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, Autism and Asthma.
Currently the only “para-disabled” boxer in the world that competes in mainstream boxing, Rhys has also launched his own boxing programme for young people. Through this, he has worked in conjunction with local schools to encourage health, fitness, and social inclusion, and promote important messages such as anti-bullying and anti-substance abuse.
The impact of Rhys’s work is recognised in the local community, with schools reporting the physical and mental health benefits of his boxing programme, as well as reduced violence and improved attendance among students.
Rhys has represented Inverclyde as an ambassador for the Year of Young People 2018, as well as a presenter for Inch by Inch, a campaign aimed at reducing obesity amongst the population of Scotland. He has also dedicated himself to supporting organisations such as Fighting for Autism and Enable Scotland.
Rhys, who received his award on Saturday 20th April, was nominated for the award by the Rotary Club of Gourock.
Rotarian Norman Pettigrew, commented: “Rhys’s dedication to supporting young people in his community is truly inspiring.
“Despite the challenges he faces, he serves as a role model for both resilience and compassion, and his work exemplifies his passion for making a difference in the lives of others.”
Find out more about the inspirational Rotary Young Citizen Award Winners 2024 at www.rotarygbi.org.