A Wilmington 13-year-old is the youngest person named on the Queen's New Year's Honours List 2016.

Jonjo Heurman, of Leyton Cross Road, will be awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of his fundraising for the Bobby Moore Fund - part of Cancer Research UK.

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Jonjo Heurman. Picture: @jonjoheurman

In an emotional video of a speech where he surprises family and friends by announcing his award at an early 14th birthday party Jonjo, whose big day falls on January 2, describes himself as "just a kid who lost someone to cancer."

He adds: "I was really shocked to receive the medal, now I have been invited to Buckingham Palace in the summer.

"I have accepted the medal for all of our angels and those fighting cancer and I hope it helps us raise a lot more awareness for the Bobby Moore fund.

"I am very proud and I hope our angels are too - thank you all for helping me."

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A younger Jonjo

Since 2011, the youngster has raised over £200,000 in memory of his nan who died of bowel cancer and footballing legend Sir Bobby.

As an ambassador for the Bobby Moore Fund, Jonjo has held an annual charity walk for the past four years - raising enough cash to fund a clinical trial for two years.

On his 2014 walk he dribbled a football from Southend to West Ham United's football ground - covering 500 miles in just five days.

In February, the teenager cycled 700 miles covering all of the Premier League football clubs in England, before returning to London to take part in a 50 mile walk to visit the remaining London Premier League clubs.

His walks also provide a platform for people to remember loved ones who have died from cancer through his Angels Ceremony, where he creates a special football shirt which lists the names of sufferers.

Jonjo has attended other charity events, such as for Boys Beating Cancer and the Little Havens Hospice and after reading on Facebook that the Freehold Community Group was struggling to fund football kits and equipment for football coaching sessions for disadvantaged young people in Rochdale, he donated his pocket money, footballs and kit to the group.

Several north Kent residents join Jonjo on the New Year's Honours list:

Martyn Lewis, Vice President of Demelza Hospice Care for Children, has been awarded a knighthood. 

OBE

  • William Sloan Bell. Head of Child Protection Save the Children UK. For Humanitarian services to Children (Sevenoaks, Kent).
  • Councillor Peter Fleming. Leader Sevenoaks District Council and lately chairman, Improvement and Innovation Board, Local Government Association. For services to Local Government (Sevenoaks, Kent).
  • Mrs Susannah Claire Schofield. For services to Small Businesses, Young People and Women in Business (Sevenoaks, Kent).

BEM

  • Mrs Valerie Blake. For services to the Arrow Riding Centre for the Disabled in Dartford, Kent (Bexley, Kent).
  • Mrs Mary Susan Matthews. For services to Young People through the Girls' Brigade in Hextable, Kent (Dartford, Kent).
  • Sean McCarthy. For voluntary service to the Poppy Appeal in London (Dartford, Kent).
  • Alan Henry George Rowe. For services to the community in Cobham Kent through the Parish Council (Gravesend, Kent).
  • Richard John Charles Tyler. Lead Service manager Event First Aid and Emergency Response. For services to the British Red Cross in Kent and Sussex. (Dartford, Kent).
  • Christopher West. Manager and Chair Disability Network Advisory Group, National Crime Agency. For services to Equality and Diversity Issues (Dartford, Kent).