Kirsty Howard
Encyclopedia
Kirsty Howard is a 16-year-old British
girl, most notable for her charity
work.
Kirsty is the figurehead of Kirsty's Appeal, a charitable foundation in her name, created to raise £5 million for Francis House, the hospice where she receives care. In October 2006, the appeal announced that it has reached its initial target figure of £5,000,000. Kirsty has taken part in numerous fundraising efforts, which have gained national support and attention.
Kirsty was born in Manchester
with an exceptionally rare condition in which her heart
is back to front, causing the misplacement of her internal organs. The condition is inoperable, and requires extensive treatment, including a constant oxygen
supply. Kirsty is the only person in the UK, and only the second in the world, diagnosed with this condition; the condition is reportedly so rare that it does not have a name (Situs ambiguus). In February 1999, she was given only six weeks to live, but defied the odds and is still alive more than 12 years later.
In 2001, Kirsty was the mascot
for the 2002 World Cup
qualifying match between England and Greece
. Commentator John Motson
called her "the bravest person on the pitch", as she accompanied David Beckham
onto the pitch with her 20 kg oxygen tank.
In 2002, Kirsty, along with Beckham, presented the Jubilee Baton
to Queen Elizabeth II
during the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester
.
In 2003, Kirsty started the inaugural Great Manchester Run
, and took part in the race herself, via wheelchair
, wearing the Number 1 vest. She has continued to do this throughout the history of the event.
In 2006, Richard Fleeshman sang for Kirsty on 'Soapstar Superstar' and donated his £200,000 prize money to The Kirsty Appeal.
Kirsty was awarded the Helen Rollason Award by the BBC
in 2004, for her courage and determination in her fundraising efforts. She has also received the Child of Courage Award (2001) and the Pride of Britain Award (2002). For her efforts in fundraising, Manchester City Council gave Kirsty their Young Citizen of the Year award in 2007. In recognition of her contributions to her community, Kirsty was awarded the Diana Award; the certificate given to her by Russell Watson at the secondary school she attends.
Kirsty's new fundraising target is to raise a further £2,000,000 to build an extension to the Francis House Hospice. This will not be named after her, but dedicated to her.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
girl, most notable for her charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
work.
Kirsty is the figurehead of Kirsty's Appeal, a charitable foundation in her name, created to raise £5 million for Francis House, the hospice where she receives care. In October 2006, the appeal announced that it has reached its initial target figure of £5,000,000. Kirsty has taken part in numerous fundraising efforts, which have gained national support and attention.
Kirsty was born in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
with an exceptionally rare condition in which her heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
is back to front, causing the misplacement of her internal organs. The condition is inoperable, and requires extensive treatment, including a constant oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
supply. Kirsty is the only person in the UK, and only the second in the world, diagnosed with this condition; the condition is reportedly so rare that it does not have a name (Situs ambiguus). In February 1999, she was given only six weeks to live, but defied the odds and is still alive more than 12 years later.
In 2001, Kirsty was the mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
for the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
qualifying match between England and Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
. Commentator John Motson
John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE ,AKA Motty, is an English football commentator on both television and radio as well a well known moter. He made his name as 'Moty' after he moted out the entire Huddersfield huddersfield cheerleaders team. writer.-Biography:The son of a Methodist minister, Motson was educated...
called her "the bravest person on the pitch", as she accompanied David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
onto the pitch with her 20 kg oxygen tank.
In 2002, Kirsty, along with Beckham, presented the Jubilee Baton
Queen's Baton Relay
The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London...
to Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
during the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
In 2003, Kirsty started the inaugural Great Manchester Run
Great Manchester Run
The Bupa Great Manchester Run is an annual 10 kilometre run through the streets in Manchester city centre, which was established in 2003. Usually held in mid-May, it is among the largest and most prestigious mass participation runs in the United Kingdom...
, and took part in the race herself, via wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
, wearing the Number 1 vest. She has continued to do this throughout the history of the event.
In 2006, Richard Fleeshman sang for Kirsty on 'Soapstar Superstar' and donated his £200,000 prize money to The Kirsty Appeal.
Kirsty was awarded the Helen Rollason Award by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 2004, for her courage and determination in her fundraising efforts. She has also received the Child of Courage Award (2001) and the Pride of Britain Award (2002). For her efforts in fundraising, Manchester City Council gave Kirsty their Young Citizen of the Year award in 2007. In recognition of her contributions to her community, Kirsty was awarded the Diana Award; the certificate given to her by Russell Watson at the secondary school she attends.
Kirsty's new fundraising target is to raise a further £2,000,000 to build an extension to the Francis House Hospice. This will not be named after her, but dedicated to her.