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How We Found Our Champs

Last year was such a tough year for everyone… We spoke with our guy AJ and we decided we wanted to ask you guys to nominate your champs of 2020. Who went the extra mile to help someone? Who deserves an extra special experience? You guys have nominated so many deserving “champs” we wanted to celebrate the UK’s young people who have been through such a lot during this testing time.

We had so many amazing stories and nominations for our JD Champs Honours list…. celebrating all the amazing things you guys did last year, and now it’s time to announce the winners. This was a very difficult decision with so many deserved winners…

With top prizes on offer, including some exclusive JD gifts, our winners were also given the opportunity to meet AJ in their own personal zoom call and speak to our champ himself.
Let’s meet the winners and hear their stories.

The story doesn’t end here – Stay tuned for what’s next in 2021.

Catch The Full Story

Meet AJs Champs

Josh Rees NHS worker Josh had been suffering with grief and depression after the loss of his dad - his hero - last year. Josh has since turned himself around, stepped out of his comfort zone and is now smashing it at university to land his dream job. He was nominated by his girlfriend so that she and his loved ones could show him just how proud everyone is of him.

Josie Lewis Like many, 2020 had a negative effect on Josie’s mental health and wellbeing. Despite dealing with her own battles, Josie brought happiness to those around her. From bringing out a karaoke machine to sing for her street during Thursday’s Clap for Carers, to completing a 30-day boxing challenge to raise money for charity, she’s helped keep spirits high during the toughest of times.

Eve Remington In 2020 Eve volunteered for her local community kitchen, delivering food parcels to people that were in isolation and being forced to shield. All while juggling university studies and a part-time job at JD.

Lou Otto At the start of lockdown, Lou quit her London job and moved into her grandfather’s house to give him some much-needed company and offer him full-time care as he battled with sickness. Lou was with him day and night when he needed her the most. He sadly died of Covid last year, but Lou gave him the best final weeks, full of real love, companionship and care.

Ellie Budenberg Since the first national lockdown, Ellie has been volunteering with one of the JD Foundation’s partner charities, the Salford Foundation, helping with their Digital Buddies programme. Through this initiative Ellie has been paired with people from the local community to offer social and practical support - everything from assisting with digital problems to helping with loneliness.

Zak Tadesse Zak struggled with low self-confidence after leaving university without any promising job prospects. However, volunteering with the Sport 4 Life charity helped Zak plug himself back into his local community by dedicating over 100 hours of his time to projects including leading a local food bank volunteering initiative, supporting a local community food garden and coaching sports, putting his recently awarded Level 1 in 'Sports Leadership' into practise. Zak has used his new-found confidence and skills to support other young people who need his help.

Akeem Ennis-Brown Professional boxer Akeem aka. Riddy was nominated for his determination to push through challenges to become British & Commonwealth Champion! The young fighter went through two fight camps in preparation for his title shot, only to have the matches pulled due to Covid leaving Akeem dejected. However, his third training camp proved successful, preparing him for the match where he ultimately ended up winning the British & Commonwealth belt.

Ben Hecks Keen bodybuilder and personal trainer Ben was nominated by one of his elderly clients after working with them tirelessly to help them overcome paralysis sustained from a stroke through rehabilitation and exercise. Ben has changed their life by helping them to walk again.

Megan Grimes Megan is an NHS mental health nurse who has seen first-hand the effect that lockdown and isolation can have on a person’s state of mind. Working through regular 12-hour shifts to care for new mothers with fragile mental health, teaching them to tend to newborn babies, adapting to new measures on the wards, and providing care to patients with COVID-19 made 2020 the toughest year in her career.

Jake Gamban Jake is a primary school teacher in a special educational needs school. Throughout the past year, Jake has been helping to keep vulnerable children safe, whilst offering them exceptional education and protection. Alongside this, Jake supported his partner after she sadly lost her brother, as well as taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Parkinson’s UK – a cause very close to his heart.

Shruti Saujani Despite suffering personal and professional challenges over the last year, Shruti has consistently put everybody else’s welfare before her own. She has engaged and recruited a number of South Asian females into volunteering roles, giving them equal opportunities and empowering them to give back to their communities. Despite risking losing her own job, she kept her team inspired, engaged and doing their best work throughout 2020, bringing hope into communities where COVID-19 has raged rampant and bringing a smile to the people who have lost so much.

Leon Weaver Leon was nominated by his sister for being a real rock for her and their mother as they battled through personal issues and grief. Leon dealt with the sudden loss of his dad, cares for his sick mother, who suffers from a functional neurological disorder, and was there for her sister whilst she was in hospital, spending his own birthday by her beside to support and care for her.

Reis Anderson Reis was nominated by his girlfriend for helping her overcome mental health struggles after losing her grandmother. Despite losing his job during this time, he worked tirelessly to re-employ himself so he could carry on supporting his girlfriend, which he now does by working 12 hour shifts seven days a week.

Tyler Didwell Nothing is ever too much for Tyler! Over the past year, he’s worked as a mechanical engineer on the wards of Norfolk and Norwich Hospital helping to maintain their medical equipment at the most critical of times. After work Tyler gives up his spare time to run errands for his mum, who’s vulnerable, as well as help other family members.

Beni Panda Beni has been nominated for his incredible work starting a grassroots football team, Panda FC during the pandemic to keep youngsters engaged and active. Giving up his free time, Beni puts his all into making the team a big success, including creating opportunities for both players and staff on and off the pitch in his hometown of Essex.

Toyah Nowak Toyah, who was nominated by her daughter, was recently diagnosed with a brain disease which has left her struggling to support her family and eight children. She has been an amazing mum throughout it all and continued to help those around her, despite waiting to undergo two operations on her brain.

Stacey Westwood Stacey lost both her nan and grandad five weeks apart in the last year. Even though she’s had a tough time personally, she’s worked tirelessly as a teaching assistant at her local school and has found the time to support numerous vulnerable families in her area too, always putting others before herself and showing her dedication to her community.

Andrea Yero Last year, Andrea juggled working her full-time job, looking after her family and volunteering for a local charity. As well as running errands for both her mum and a neighbour who were shielding, she gave up her free time to deliver hot meals – and a friendly smile - to the elderly who were advised to shield and isolate.

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