A teenager who has been suffering from cancer since the age of four has been recognized in the New Year Honors List for raising money for other children suffering from the disease.

Mikayla Beames, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to charitable fundraising.

The 18-year-old, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for brain cancer, founded the charity Team Mikayla In 2014, which grants wishes to children being treated in four UK hospitals.

Another honoree was Paralympic rower Erin Kennedy, who has been appointed OBE for services to rowing and breast cancer awareness.

mikayla, who Wins BBC Make a Difference award At his fundraiser in September, he said his mother had initially told him a “very important letter” had arrived for her.

He said that keeping the secret of the award from friends and family was “incredibly difficult”.

“A lot of family and friends have said: ‘What are you doing on this date or that date?’ And I said: ‘I can’t really say: we’re doing something…'”

Mikayla said her mission is to “create as many smiles as possible” for children with cancer, adding that it has been a “very difficult journey”.

Mother Natasha said she is very proud of Mikayla.

“It’s still surreal. We’re just normal people trying to do good in the community. For Mikayla to get the honor, it’s like, ‘This is actually happening!'”

This Christmas the charity delivered more than £2,000 worth of books and toys to children’s hospital wards in Oxford, Bristol, Leicester and Nottingham.

Erin Kennedy’s honor comes after the Henley rower won gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2022 and became an advocate for early detection and diagnosis.

After winning gold at the 2022 European Championships, she had to undergo a double mastectomy before winning the 2023 European Championships during chemotherapy.

• Andrew Haines – Chief Executive of Network Rail, who receives a knighthood for services to the transport sector and the economy

• Professor Alison Marie Etheridge – Professor of Probability at the University of Oxford has been appointed a Dame for services to the mathematical sciences.

• Sarwat Tasneem Abate – Behavior Change Consultant and Founder Thrive Foundation OBE appointed for services to faith and integration

• Dr. Paul Christopher Roberts – The archaeologist and keeper of antiquities at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, has also been appointed OBE for services to archeology and heritage.

• Rob McDougall – The chief fire officer of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is awarded the King’s Fire Service Medal

you can follow bbc oxfordshire But Facebook, X (Twitter)Or Instagram,