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Teenager honoured for cancer fundraising

TEAM MIKAYLA Mikayla Beames poses with an unnamed hospital ward staff member. They are both holding what appear to be Christmas presents and smiling in front of the ward's cupboards which are decorated with bunting and children's drawings.TEAM MIKAYLA
Mikayla Beames (right) set up the charity, which donated more than £2,000 worth of Christmas gifts to children's cancer wards

A teenager who has lived with cancer since she was four has been recognised in the New Year Honours List for raising money for other children with the disease.

Mikayla Beames, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, has been given a British Empire Medal for her services to charitable fundraising.

The 18-year-old, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for brain cancer, set up the charity Team Mikayla in 2014, which grants wishes for children being treated at four UK hospitals.

Another honours recipient was Paralympic rower Erin Kennedy, who has been appointed an OBE for services to rowing and to breast cancer awareness.

Mikayla, who won a BBC Make a Difference Award in September for her fundraising, said she was initially told by her mum that a "very important letter" had arrived for her.

She said it had been "incredibly hard" to keep the secret of the award from friends and family.

"Lots of family and friends have said: 'what are you doing on this date or that date?' And I've said: 'I can't actually say: we're doing something...'"

Mikayla Beames, standing in front of a purple BBC Make a Difference background, and holding an award.
Mikayla Beames was first aware of the latest award when her mum said what looked like a "very important" letter had arrived

Mikayla said her mission remains to "create more and more smiles" for children with cancer, which she said is "such a hard journey".

Mum Natasha said she was extremely proud of Mikayla.

"It's still surreal. We're just normal people trying to do good in the community. To get the honour for Mikayla, it's like, 'this is really happening!'"

This Christmas the charity delivered more than £2,000 worth of books and toys to children's hospital wards in Oxford, Bristol, Leicester and Nottingham.

NAOMI BAKER Paralympic rower Erin Kennedy poses for a photo in her Team GB rowing uniform. She is smiling, has long brown hair and small pearl earringsNAOMI BAKER
Erin Kennedy won gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games after being given the all-clear from breast cancer in March 2023

Erin Kennedy's honour comes after the Henley rower won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in 2024.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022 and became an advocate for early detection and diagnosis.

After winning gold at the 2022 European Championships while undergoing chemotherapy, she underwent a double mastectomy before winning the 2023 European Championships.

Other honours recipients include:

  • Andrew Haines - the chief executive officer of Network Rail, who receives a knighthood for services to the transport sector and to the economy
  • Prof Alison Mary Etheridge - the professor of probability at Oxford University is appointed a dame for services to the mathematical sciences
  • Sarwat Tasneem Ebbett - the behavioural change consultant and founder of the Thrive Foundation is appointed an OBE for services to faith and to integration
  • Dr Paul Christopher Roberts - the archaeologist and keeper of antiquities at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum is also appointed an OBE for services to archaeology and to heritage
  • Rob MacDougall - Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer is awarded a King's Fire Service Medal

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