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Prime Minister presents Jane Gates with the Tesco Magazine Mum of the Year Award

Trust Director Jane Gates has been presented with an award by Prime Minister Gordon Brown for her work to help others following the death of her son Sebastian.
 
Jane was selected as Tesco Magazine Mum of the Year for turning her personal tragedy into positivity for others, through the work of the charity she set up in Sebastian’s memory, and on Sunday Mr Brown and his wife Sarah presented Jane with the award at a star-studded ceremony in London.
 
Jane said: “It was an incredible honour to be given this very prestigious award by the Prime Minister and his wife; I can’t think of another couple who would be more fitting as they too are bereaved parents who understand the need to commit positive energy to doing something in memory of a much-loved child. It was a wonderful experience meeting the nine other winners and I’m sure that lasting friendships have been forged through a truly fantastic weekend.”
 
The award ceremony on Sunday night was hosted by TV presenter Fiona Phillips and attended by a host of celebrities including actress Patsy Palmer, author Tana Ramsay and Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.
 
On Monday Jane and Michael Gates, and the other Tesco Magazine winners, were invited to attend a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by Sarah Brown.
 
Jane added : “I’m incredibly grateful to the marvelous team at Tesco Magazine who put together a special weekend and who have done so much to highlight and celebrate the role of being a mum.”
 
Jane established Sebastian’s Action Trust in 2004, shortly after nine-year-old Sebastian died on Christmas Eve 2003. Sebastian had been battling a rare form of childhood cancer called Wilms’ tumour for two-and-a-half-years. Sebastian’s last wish was to create a holiday house where seriously ill children and their families could enjoy precious time together free of charge.
 
Over the past six years Jane, and the Trust she established, have worked to raise the funds needed to make this happen and last month a ceremony was held to break ground at the site where the house will be built.
 
Jane was also recognised for her work to support families with seriously ill children through a range of practical support projects and for the support offered to bereaved families.
 
To read more about  the Tesco Mum of the Year Award and to see pictures and a short film of the event click here.
 
 
Article date: 2nd March 2010


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