UNWILLING to let his struggles with asthma hold him back, Jack Tait, 13, helped raise about £5,000 for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, via everything from running 5km races to helping with charity bucket collections outside superstores.

Diagnosed with asthma at just three, Jack has made regular trips to the hospital throughout his life and said he was very grateful to all NHS staff.

His fundraising efforts, stretching back to completing a kids’ race at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival at just five years old, were rewarded in 2020 when the charity named him joint winner of the Young Achiever Award at the Scottish Children’s Health Awards.

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He said that he took part in the run to say thank you to staff at the hospital for their help.

On top of fundraising, Jack also donates Christmas presents and Easter eggs to the charity, which has given great support to his family.

In total Jack has raised about £5,000 for the charity and continues to fundraise for the good cause.

The teenager continues to have a positive outlook on life and always thinks of others before himself.

Jack picked up the Youth Community Champion of the Year Award at the East Lothian Courier Community Champion Awards last Thursday.

Reflecting on the award, Jack was humble, as always, paying tribute to fellow finalists Amie Ferguson from Haddington, who helped raise money for Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home; Dunbar Grammar School’s Elle Washington and Sorcha Calder, who helped save a young boy who was choking on a sweet; and Prestonpans piper Charlie Mack, who has taken his bagpiping skills to audiences across the UK.

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Jack said: “I am definitely happy to win, but everyone else did well as well, they were all so great.”

Reflecting on his fundraising for charity as well as his struggles with asthma, Jack said: “It felt great, especially when you see what the charity do for people, it’s just amazing.

“My asthma was a problem, and it will be a problem but I won’t let it hold me back.

“The plan is to keep fundraising and try and raise even more money!”

The award was sponsored by SSE Renewables, the team behind Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of the county.