Teen gives back to community

10:14am Wednesday 30th July 2008

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JACK Kennedy wants to give something back to the community.

The 16-year-old has been nominated by his father for News Shopper's Our Young Stars awards in the Best Community Servant category.

Jack, of Torridon Road, Catford, suffers from Hereditary Multiple Exostoses and was admitted to hospital in September 2006.

He then had to take six months off school to recover.

The condition causes calcium growths in the joints, which can be painful.

But despite his condition, Jack, who wants to become a doctor, has done more than 500 hours' voluntary service for St John Ambulance, where he has helped out at events and learnt first aid.

Jack said: "St John Ambulance allowed me to learn new skills to bring into life.

"I want to be a doctor when I'm older and working with St John will definitely help me achieve that goal."

He added: "It got me out of the house and kept me off the streets.

"It was nice to give something back to the community."

Jack is also a member of the Catford South Youth Panel, which meets once a month to discuss ways of solving crime.

He says he was inspired to join after the stabbing of Jimmy Mizen, who was also 16, in Lee on May 10.

Jack, who is a pupil at the London Nautical School, Waterloo, said: "My mum lives near where Jimmy Mizen was stabbed and I thought that's too close to home and I don't want that to be me'.

"I joined the youth panel because I thought it could help educate me and my friends about crime."

Jack's father, Greg, who nominated him, said: "Jack has sheer determination towards his goals and has little problem of achieving them.

"You pick up a paper and all you get is negative news about youngsters.

"We could do with some good news as well."

To nominate a youngster for an award click here