New Year's Honour Recipient Jonjo Heurman, 13, Is Youngest Person To Receive Accolade

This 13-Year-Old Has Raised Been Recognised For Raising More Than £200,000 For Charity
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The youngest recipient on the New Year's Honours List is a 13-year-old who has raised £235,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund at Cancer Research UK.

Jonjo Heuerman lost his grandmother aged just 60 in 2009 to bowel cancer, the same disease that killed his hero, footballer Bobby Moore. He walked for three days, aged nine, to raise money for the charity and done a walk in its honour so since every year.

He has been called "inspiring" by David Cameron and Bobby Moore's widow Stephanie has she is "extremely proud" of his fundraising efforts.

Jonjo, from Dartford, Kent, receives the British Empire Medal. He said: "I was really surprised and very proud to hear... I didn’t even know what a British Empire Medal was. I never realised my fundraising would go this far.

“I'm really hoping my medal will help me raise more funds and awareness for The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far.”

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Jonjo Heuerman in December 2012 in London

As well as his annual walks, he organises events for the fund throughout the year. In April he will undertake a 450-mile walk and cycle from Dortmund to Wembley to mark the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup win.

Over the years, he has walked and cycled thousands of miles all over Britain.

This year, he cycled and walked 800 miles, visiting all 20 Premiership football clubs with his parents Donna and Gary.

His sister Megan has raised £10,000 for the charity.

He says he has no ultimate target for how much he raises, saying he "won't stop until I help find a cure".

He is much younger than the youngest person to receive an accolade in the last round of honours - the Birthday Honours 2015 - who was 17.

His mother Donna said: "“An award was mentioned ages ago and to know he was even being considered was special in itself. But then we didn’t hear much more until the beginning of November when a very official-looking letter arrived from the Cabinet Office.

“We had a quick peek, realised what it was and were pretty choked. When Jon got home from school, he looked at it but didn’t understand at first. And then the penny dropped. The first thing he said was ‘Why?’

"But then the excitement kicked in. He was just so proud he wanted to shout it from the hilltops."

Stephanie Moore said: "She said: “Jonjo has done an enormous amount for the Bobby Moore Fund. Not only has he raised a phenomenal amount of money and helped raise awareness of bowel cancer, but he has taken on a huge physical challenge for someone so young.

“I’m absolutely delighted his hard work, and that of his mum, dad and sister who are with him every step of the way, has been recognised in this way.”