Wallasey’s Amy Garton Hughes wins Against All Odds award at annual Morgan Foundation Awards

Nov 21 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

A YOUNG woman from Wallasey was honoured at an annual awards ceremony celebrating the region’s most inspiring people and organisations.

Amy Garton Hughes, who turned 21 this year, was named winner of the Against All Odds category at the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards last week.

Amy has Cockayne Syndrome (CS), which causes premature ageing and leads to shortened life expectancy.

Her family set up the charity Amy and Friends, which is bringing hope to scores of other people with CS and their families.

Judges described Amy as an “inspirational young lady” and said she had put her own problems aside to help others – and to raise money to fund research which could potentially change lives in the future.

Amy’s mum Jayne said: “The award was announced last and we had no idea who had won.

“All night the judges were coming over saying how moved they were at her story and one said they’d gone home and cried.

“Amy was made up and she got a standing ovation. Everyone was crying – I was crying!”

Amy’s Texan sweetheart Nick Jaminet, who is currently staying with Amy and her family, was also invited on stage to help collect the award.

The prize includes £10,000, which will go towards the £40,000 cost of the conference Amy and Friends holds each year for people with CS and their families.

Businessman Steve Morgan, founder of the Morgan Foundation, said: “As in previous years I have been heartened and humbled to meet some truly exceptional people during the judging process.

“At a time of economic uncertainty, stories of entrepreneurial success and social enterprise are even more meaningful and our aim is to give them the recognition they so deserve.”

Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough, based in Birkenhead, was named joint winner of the award for the charity or social enterprise making the best social contribution, winning £5,000.