by Lewis Hine
‘He’s thrilled,’ she told Nick, and started to laugh.
I’m not going to lie, we did a little dance right there in the cereals aisle in Asda. We didn’t give a monkey’s what anyone thought of us!
Three weeks later, Mum and I were staying in a posh hotel in London courtesy of the BBC. They took us to see the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical in the West End, then on a tour of the Radio 1 studios. The other winners and shortlisted kids were there too. Niamh was the other Teen Hero. She runs an online support group for young people with chronic illnesses because she’s had multiple health problems since she was born, and was bullied so badly at school that she got depressed and started self-harming. Alex and Carys, who are both young carers, were the shortlisted heroes and then there were Joe and Toby and Lauren and Lucy. Joe and Toby got the One Million Hours Award for the fundraising they’d done in memory of their friend Arran, who’d died of a brain tumour, and Lauren and Lucy won the Make it Digital prize. They’d been part of a team who had come up with an idea for a lightweight medical kit called the Medical Military Shuttle, and Lauren and Lucy had then gone on to inspire other girls to follow their lead. They were a really amazing bunch and I felt proud to be there with them.
After the tour we had lunch with all the DJs who’d been on the panel – Nick Grimshaw, Scott Mills, Clara Amfo, Chris Stark and Greg James. That was exciting enough, but then we were told that we were going to spend the afternoon at Kensington Palace. With Prince William and Kate.
The journey there was really funny. Nick Grimshaw, Clara Amfo and Greg James were travelling in this luxury minibus with us and when we stopped at the traffic lights on Oxford Street, all these people started banging on the windows. I knew they weren’t interested in me, but I felt really famous anyway. And then the next thing I knew I was walking into the palace. I don’t think I’d believe it had happened if it weren’t for the photo, but there it is: Nick Grimshaw, Clara Amfo, Greg James and Lewis Hine of Leigh Park, Portsmouth, about to walk into Kensington Palace.
Someone – a security guard or maybe even a butler, they must have one of those – showed us through the front door and my first thought was, ‘Oh my God, their house is massive.’
Mum was taken off for tea somewhere and the rest of us were shown into this huge room. I remember noticing that there were loads of family photographs all over the place. Nick and I headed straight for the back where the biscuits were. Then Greg came in.
‘Guys, attention please,’ he said, and in walked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Kate was wearing this long white dress with red flowers all over it.
‘This isn’t a dream, it’s really happening,’ Alex whispered in my ear.
That’s exactly how I felt too.
‘I don’t know how you all find the time to do the volunteering,’ Kate said to us all. ‘It’s such a great thing. Keep it up.’
‘Yes, massive congratulations,’ said William. ‘Seriously impressive.’
Nick and I were still munching on the biscuits and I thought that would be it, but then Clara said, ‘This afternoon has been a perfect way to let our Teen Heroes know just how valued they are,’ and started introducing William and Kate to each of us. I stuffed my half-eaten biscuit in my pocket.
‘This is Lewis,’ Clara said, and first Kate and then William shook my hand.
William said, ‘You have people looking up to you and saying that you are a shining light for your age group.’
That made me feel a bit weird. Stress has a nasty habit of bringing on my seizures, and meeting the heir to the throne, however nice he is, is about as stressful as it gets. So, of course, I had one. Not a big one, just one of the small, twitchy face sorts, but it was noticeable on the video Radio 1 made for the Teen Awards website. The whole left side of my face gets pulled up so it looks like I’m making a face at him. I also zone out completely while I’m having a seizure, which he must have found a bit strange. William and Kate were both far too polite to say anything.
Then Greg stepped into the middle of the room.
‘We have some badges that we’d like you to distribute,’ he said, handing a silver tray piled with little black boxes to William.
William and Kate went round the room again, handing each of us a box with a bright yellow Radio 1 Teen Awards badge inside it. I’m happy to say that I did manage to speak this time. ‘I’m really happy to receive this,’ I said finally. ‘It’s come as a bit of a shock.’
William just smiled.
Once we’d all got our badges, William looked at us all. ‘Thank you, Radio 1, for doing the Teen Awards,’ he said. ‘It’s fantastic to highlight all you champions. You’re a huge inspiration. I know you are the most modest people I have ever met, but you should be proud of all the hard work and effort you’re putting in. You’re leading the way. Well done.’
We had the royal seal of approval!
Afterwards, Greg said, ‘It doesn’t really get any better than that, does it?’
I would have agreed, except that I got to stand next to Kate in the photo.
But in fact, all that was nothing compared to the Teen Awards ceremony itself. Meeting Kid Ink the year before had shaken up my ideas, and helped me to stop feeling sorry for myself and do something positive with my life; winning a Teen Hero Award gave me a springboard to make what I’d started bigger and better than I’d ever imagined. And it was great fun, too.
It’s impossible to describe what it feels like to walk out on the stage at London’s SSE Arena, Wembley in front of 10,000 screaming teenagers. But on Sunday 23rd October 2016, that’s exactly what I did.
I heard Nick Grimshaw say, ‘We welcome on to the stage the one and only Lewis!’ and then someone gave me a shove. As I walked through the Radio 1 arch into all these light beams and heard the crowd screaming, I raised my hands in their air like I was some kind of superstar. I have no idea why I did that – everyone else had been really low-key and modest. I think I was just enjoying myself. Nick put his arm around me and handed me this big green disc with a giant 1 cut into it. ‘This is Lewis, everybody,’ he said. ‘Congratulations. How does it feel to finally get your Teen Award in front of 10,000 people?’
‘It’s crazy,’ I told him. ‘It’s something I never thought would happen. It’s just been completely surreal.’
There was more screaming.
‘Has it been loud enough today, d’you think?’ Nick asked.
‘Yeah, I’m probably going to go out deaf,’ I said. ‘But it’s all cool.’
‘All cool,’ laughed Nick. Then he turned back to me. ‘I just wanted to say, on stage, that what you’re doing is so incredible. It’s such a cool idea, so congratulations from me and everyone at Radio 1 and everyone here at Wembley.’
I thought that was it, but he went on. ‘You’re a bit of a gamer, aren’t you? So we’ve got a message from someone that I know you’re a big fan of. Check this out.’
The screen behind us came to life, and there was the YouTuber KSI.
‘Hey guys,’ he said, ‘it’s your boy, KSI.’
Even I was screaming now.
‘Radio 1 has sent me a video of your amazing, awesome story,’ KSI continued, ‘and it just completely blew me away so I thought, you know what, we definitely need to get together, get the controllers and go head-to-head. I’m not going to go easy on you, so you might like to get some practice in.’
I literally couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
‘All right, so that’s going to happen,’ said Nick. ‘It’s going to be KSI versus you, Lewis.’
‘That’s a bit of a battle,’ I replied, ‘and I don’t know who’s going to win, but I think it’ll be KSI – I’m not as good as him.’
Nick laughed. ‘Well, what we’ve done – and we don’t want to take sides, but we want you to win – is we’ve got you some amazing gaming things that we’re going to give you so you can practise.’ He paused. ‘And since you’re here and you’re such a gaming fan, do you want to present our Best Game winner?�
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I nodded, thinking that things couldn’t get any weirder. He told me to press this button, then the whole of Wembley did a countdown and Nick said, ‘And the winner is Pokémon Go!’
A massive Pikachu walked onto the stage. The problem with Pikachus is that they don’t have proper hands, so I just had to pretend to give it the award.
There was a photo session too. All the Teen Hero winners had to stand on this red carpet while loads of photographers shouted, ‘Over here please! Teen Heroes, look to your left! This way please!’
By the time it was all over, my head was spinning. Mum had said she’d take us out for some food and I was really ready to eat, but when we got to the stage door, a security guard stood in our way.
‘Don’t go out there,’ he warned us.
‘Why not?’ I asked. ‘We’re going to TGI Fridays. I’m starving.’
He opened the door just wide enough for me to see. I’m not joking – there were about 200 people standing out there, and all I could hear was, ‘Lewis! Lewis! We want Lewis!’
It was insane. I laughed, but the truth is, I was petrified.
Obviously, we couldn’t stay inside Wembley all night, and after about 20 minutes it was clear that the crowds weren’t going anywhere either. The security guard let us out.
‘Run for the hills,’ he called, as the crowd spotted me.
There were shouts of, ‘There he is – Lewis! Over here! Lewis!’
‘I think they’re really taken with you, Lew,’ Mum said, laughing as groups of people rushed over to ask for selfies.
The security guard was keen to move us on. ‘If you hang about for photos you’ll block the pavement,’ he said in this really serious voice.
But now I was outside, I was quite enjoying it. Everyone was really friendly. One guy in a pink T-shirt came up to me and said, ‘Can I get a picture with you? You’re a real inspiration. Well done, mate.’ How nice is that?
It didn’t stop even when we finally made it to TGI Fridays. It seemed like everyone there had been at the Teen Awards and they all wanted a picture with the award winners. I didn’t even manage to have a sip of my drink. It was a crazy night.
The next day I was back at home in the real world (there’s nothing like sisters and seizures to keep you grounded) but, although it might sound a bit big-headed, when I looked at the award on the shelf in my room, it did make me feel proud. And it gave me a massive spur to keep going and to work harder. I knew that winning this award wasn’t an end – it was a reward for a job done, yes, but it was also a new beginning. It was an amazing platform that I could use to make Friend Finder bigger and better, and to make sure everyone has a friend.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what happened when I went head to head with KSI, like most things in my life, it didn’t turn out quite how I’d expected. I did get the gaming stuff Nick had promised, but the match itself was cancelled. I wasn’t that surprised – the whole thing had felt a bit mad anyway. Then on 2nd January 2017, I was just lying in bed when this huge guy in a black hoodie walks into my bedroom. I was so shocked I didn’t register who it was for a minute. Then it clicked. It was KSI.
‘No, don’t do that to me!’ I exclaimed, getting up.
‘What’s up, bro?’ he said, cool as anything.
‘Ah dude, you scared the living daylights out me,’ I said, laughing. ‘Normally I’d expect my mum to come through the door.’
‘No, just me, bro.’
Yeah right – like KSI walks in my bedroom every day.
‘How’s it going?’ he said. He started rummaging about in his bag. ‘I come with gifts. I’ve brought quite a few. I wasn’t sure whether you were an Xbox or PlayStation guy, so I got you both. And some chocolates.’
Games and chocolate – it was like he knew me already.
Then he said. ‘Your house is quite a long way from Kent.’ It turns out that he’d come all the way in a taxi. I couldn’t believe it – it must be 100 miles.
Mum ordered some pizza and then we had our match. He beat me at FIFA but I got him on UFC, so I call that a draw.
My Top Tips for Life
Don’t do something hoping you’ll be paid back in return. The universe has a magical way of balancing things out. Acts of kindness are often returned to you in the strangest ways when you least expect them. When you help someone, whether it’s by volunteering, caring or creating, do it just for the sake of helping them and making a difference to their life. The reward is that it will make you feel really warm and gooey inside, and believe me, that’s a great feeling. Anything else is a bonus.
Take a chance. I had no idea what reaction I’d get when I walked out onto the stage at Wembley Arena. I was taking a big risk, waving my arms in the air and enjoying myself. But I did it. And it felt great.
Oh, and if KSI ever turns up at your house to play Xbox, make sure you play UFC, because he’s really good at FIFA!
A Day in the Life: 30th December 2017
4am: I have a bad headache. Mum’s asleep on the floor of my room so I guess I’ve had a seizure. It’s horrible not being in control of your body, but it’s worse not knowing what’s happened. I go back to sleep.
11am: I only just woke up. I must have been tired. Mum’s just come in and raised the bed and given me my medication. She’s given me some tea and toast as well.
11:15am: My head still hurts so I’m staying in bed now, watching The Fast and The Furious.
12 noon: Mum’s gone to the shop and Chloe’s looking after me.
1pm: Mum’s back. She’s made me some lunch, just a chicken and bacon sandwich and a protein yoghurt, so that’s going to be my food for the day. She’s going to help me eat because all my left side is weak today.
2:30pm: Mum says I need some fresh air, so I take my wheelchair to go to the shops. I really want a new Xbox controller but I know Mum can’t afford it, so I’m paying for it with the money I’ve saved.
3:30pm: I’ve just got home and I’m going to try out my new controller. This is what I spend a lot of my time doing, just sitting here playing on my Xbox.
4pm: I pause the game because I’ve got to have a Skype meeting with Charlotte, who’s helping me write this book.
4:45pm: I couldn’t do as much work with Charlotte as usual today because I’m so tired, but I tried my best. I’m knackered now.
6pm: I’m in bed with a headache. Mum tried to give me dinner but I’m not hungry.
8pm: I’m watching The Hitman’s Bodyguard in bed. My mum is sitting on the end of my bed watching it with me. My sister Jessica is upstairs with tonsillitis, so Mum’s running between us.
12:15am: I guess I’ve been asleep, as my sister Chloe has just come in from work and the dog’s barking woke me up. Mum’s voice comes through the monitor, scaring me, but I guess she just heard me move and wanted to check I was OK. I’m going back to sleep now.
THINKING BIG
I WAS READY to do something big. Really big.
Sitting on my bed a few weeks after the Teen Hero Award, I posted a message on Facebook asking everyone in the Friend Finder family to name one thing they would really love to do. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t ‘Go to a prom’. But that’s what came up, again and again.
Of course, once I stopped to think about it, it was obvious; the prom is a major topic of conversation from the moment you start secondary school. It’s a rite of passage for every 16 year old. Or every 16 year old who’s well enough, confident enough and able-bodied enough to be able to go to school. Unsurprisingly, lots of the people involved with Friend Finder were going to miss out on their school prom.
So that was it. Decision made: I was going to organise a Friend Finder prom for all those teenagers who had missed – or knew they would miss – their own. It would be like the other Friend Finder events, just bigger and with dresses. Or so I thought.
I went back to Facebook and asked for volunteers to help me ‘plan a big project’ that would take place at Portsmouth Guildha
ll on 2nd June 2017. If it all sounds a bit cloak-and-dagger, that’s because I didn’t want too many people knowing what I had in mind, especially so early in the process. I got a pretty good response; 20 adults and teenagers said they’d get involved, but when it came to it, only four turned up for the first meeting. That was a bit disheartening.
And while I wasn’t getting far with helpers, Mum was using my new Teen Hero celebrity to try to persuade TV production companies that it would be a good idea to make a documentary about this amazing prom I was organising. Talk about blagging it. But it turns out that she’s a good blagger and on Christmas Eve 2016, CBBC agreed.
I spent almost the whole of January 2017 in hospital having tests and treatments so, by the start of February, we still had nothing more than an over-ambitious idea and a TV crew anxious to start filming. We had two major problems: first, our £15,000 fundraising target was still just that – a distant target – and second, the ‘army of volunteers’ we’d mentioned to CBBC was actually a bunch of disabled teenagers with no experience of organising anything.
I did another shout-out for volunteers, without mentioning the documentary. I knew I’d get more people if I did, but I didn’t want anyone to be part of this just because they saw it as a chance to get their face on the telly. I only wanted people who were genuinely interested in helping Friend Finder achieve its goals. Five adults and eight of the Friend Finder kids – Callum, Eddie, George, Hannah, Jasmine, Eden, Billy and me – turned up for the next meeting. We became the planning committee.
I’d like to say that we were strategic, and allocated certain jobs to certain people depending on their skills, but we really weren’t. It was a more a case of jumping in with both feet and keeping everything crossed. We asked the local supermarket if we could go and offer to pack people’s bags at the checkout one Saturday. We’d seen other people raising money doing that. The supermarket manager said yes, but when we got there I’m sorry to say that most of the customers were really vile. We’d tell them that we were raising money for the Friend Finder Prom and ask if we could help them pack their bags, but most of them gave us the death stare and said no. They probably took one look at my shaking hands and assumed I’d break their eggs (which I probably would have done, to be fair). Some fundraising leaves you feeling you’ve really achieved something, but after a day of that, we just felt like we’d wasted our time.