12-year-old Hertfordshire boy in the final for this year’s JustGiving Awards celebrating his charity achievements 

An inspirational 12-year-old boy from Hertfordshire has been named as a finalist in this year’s Young Fundraiser of the Year category for the GoCardless JustGiving Awards after raising more than £20,000 for charity. 

After tragically losing his younger sister Emily last year to an incurable brain tumour, Harry Smith turned his grief into something positive and decided to fundraise for The Brain Tumour Charity, in his sister’s memory.  

He swam a mile (64 lengths), climbed Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain and cycled home from Addenbrookes Hospital, the journey he says his sister was never able to make.  

Speaking about being a finalist in the awards Harry said: “I was so shocked when I found out I had been chosen out of thousands of other people to be a finalist. I couldn’t believe it. I miss my sister Emily so much, but I know she would be so proud of me having raised over £20,000 for my Active April challenge for the Brain Tumour Charity.”  

After being nominated by members of the public, Harry was selected as a finalist by a panel of judges which included Radio DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams, Actress Angela Griffin, longstanding fundraiser, famous for wearing a charity shop outfit every day for one year, Caroline Jones and the general manager of JustGiving, Pascale Harvie. 

This is the eleventh year of the JustGiving Awards and the judges agreed that this year’s event will be an incredibly emotional yet truly inspiring evening.  From more than 13,000 nominations, the judges worked hard to shortlist 21 inspiring finalists, three for each of the seven awards categories.  

“I’m really looking forward to going to London to the Roundhouse Theatre, seeing our film about Emily’s story being played and meeting other fundraisers. I hope to meet some celebrities too!” Continued Harry.  

Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager at JustGiving said: “Harry is amazing and so incredibly brave. Whilst he didn’t take on his swim, climb and cycle for praise and recognition, he absolutely deserves it.” 

“The ceremony is a magical evening but most importantly it’s a moment for us at JustGiving to thank, formally recognise and celebrate the individuals, groups and charities who, like Harry have done extraordinary things in the interest of others.” 

Members of the public now have the opportunity to vote for the fundraisers they want to see crowned for their efforts via: https://page.justgiving.com/awardsvoting2023 

Seven winners as well as JustGiving’s Charity of the Year will be announced at the ceremony which takes place at London’s Roundhouse on the evening of September 25th. Winners will be presented with their official trophy by well-known faces from the world of celebrities and sport.  

Previous JustGiving Award winners include Max Woosey, who was crowned 2022 Young Fundraiser of the Year for camping outside for hundreds of nights in memory of his neighbour and raising funds for North Devon Hospice.   

Three dads walking were awarded Fundraising Team of the Year for raising significant awareness for suicide prevention and funds for Papyrus and the late Dame Deborah James’ family received a special recognition award after she created wide-scale awareness of Bowel cancer and its symptoms and raised millions of pounds for the Bowelbabe Fund.   

Pat Phelan, MD of UK & Ireland and Chief Customer Officer at GoCardless said: “We’re proud to recognise the finalists and everyone nominated for this year’s GoCardless JustGiving Awards. We’re also grateful to all of the donors who support them. By combining the energy and enthusiasm of fundraisers like Harry with the generosity of the nation, truly amazing things can happen.”