A COURAGEOUS teenager who lost his mother to cancer has been recognised for his academic achievements and for raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Ross Graham, of Billingham, was presented with the Tom Brown Award for Courage over adversity at the St Michael’s Catholic Academy annual prize giving ceremony.

Ross, 16, sat his GCSE exams knowing his mother, Helen, 51, was critically ill with skin cancer.

Helen, who had been fighting cancer for five years but was only told the condition was incurable in August 2013, died shortly after he completed his final exam.

As well as studying Ross, who achieved 11 GCSEs, including six A*s and As, has also dedicated his time to helping raise more than £11,500 for MacMillan Nurses, with a ten and a half hour coast-to-coast cycle ride and a school cancer awareness day, to keep a promise he made to his mum before she died.

“I think my mum would have been very proud tonight,” said Ross, who is currently taking A level physics, maths, geography and psychology, as well as studying for his private pilots licence.

“I promised that I would study hard for my exams and I always kept my promises to her.”

Ross was presented with his award by Christopher and Jacinta Brown, whose son Tom, 16, a former pupil at St Michael’s Academy, was tragically killed in a road accident in April 2013.

Mr Brown, who designed the award depicting four books with titles Look to The Future, Tom Brown’s Schooldays, Lasting Impressions and Don’t Look Back, also presented Ross with a cheque for £50.

“Ross should be extremely proud of what he has managed to achieve,” said Mr Brown.

“Although in many ways I would prefer not to be handing him this award it really is in recognition of all of his hard work and keeping his promise to his mum. It also helps to keep Tom’s name alive in the memory of St Michael’s.”

The award was one of dozens to be presented at the celebration event, hosted by St Michael’s head teacher Andrew Ramsey, recognising achievements and endeavour in a wide range of subject areas.

The final trophy of the evening, The Good Shepherd Award, was presented to Jordan Dixon, 16, of Billingham, in memory of St Michael’s special education needs co-ordinator Kathryn Taylor who passed away in January.