Injured soldier to present awards

Lance Bombardier Parkinson, from Doncaster, lost both legs and suffered more than 40 injuries including brain damage which affected his memory and speech in a bomb attack in Afghanistan in 2006. He will be presenting the awards to 80 youngsters, aged 11 to 19, at a ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall. They have worked with a council-based travel team, Indetravel, to use public transport rather than having to rely on taxis or minibuses.

One of them, Adam Khan, 13, from Firth Park, Sheffield, said: “I didn’t like the minibus which came to get me every day because it made me feel like a baby. I was a bit nervous at first but now I’m really excited that I can get the bus every day. I feel really grown up now and think it’s changed my life forever.”

Mr Parkinson added: “I believe that no-one should ever be allowed to tell you what you can and cannot achieve. Only you can decide that. I try to prove that in everything I do and know that these award winners have proved it too.”