A YOUNG girl living with a life-long health condition has won another award to add to her growing collection.
Inspirational Hollie Kyle was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) when she was eight.
Since then, she has undergone numerous tests, operations, and ongoing changes in medication.
While arthritis is often associated with older people, it can affect children too, and there is currently no cure.
Even when remission is achieved, permanent joint damage can remain.
Having bagged Proud of Barnsley and Young Champions awards, the 13-year-old has now been given the ‘Child of Courage’ title at the Heart Radio Yorkshire Hero Awards 2026.
Hollie’s mum, Laura Kyle, told the Chronicle: “It started off as such a nice, simple idea to help other children in hospital and it’s just kind of snowballed since.
“Hollie is just keen to give something back.
“From a young age she couldn’t walk far so I knew something was up.
“I took her to the hospital and they did X-rays and things but said they couldn’t find anything.
“Then when she was eight she came up to me and said: ‘look at my fingers’.
“They were all bent like a claw, the kind of thing you’d see with older people.
“I took her back to hospital and they ran tests and said it was juvenile arthritis, but that she’d have to go to Sheffield for treatment.
“I was worried thinking how long it would take and would we have to go private, but they saw her really quickly and began treatment.”
Hollie’s desire to give back began after she received treatment at hospital for over a year.
Inspired by her own experiences, she founded Hollie’s Gift Appeal, aiming to collect gifts and raise money for children who are unwell during Christmas.
In the first year of the appeal, Hollie donated over 300 presents to children spending Christmas in hospital.
Her generosity soon gained national attention, leading to an appearance on ITV’s Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, where she won her family an all-inclusive holiday.
Last year alone, she donated around 500 gifts and spent countless hours making keyrings and bracelets to raise money for juvenile arthritis charities.
Her efforts attracted widespread community support, with Barnsley FC players even helping her distribute gifts.
Jane Mills, from Barnsley Hospital Charity, nominated Hollie for the Child of Courage award.
She said: “We are so proud of Hollie - she always has a huge smile on her face and is one of the most selfless young people we know.
“Winning this isn’t just an award, it’s a reflection of the strength, bravery and joy she brings to everyone around her.”
