The Ward and Partners Children’s Awards, in their 12th year, recognise the achievements of children, their families and the charities that support them. Kai Shersby, 15, was a winner in the triumph over adversity category last year. Mary Louis caught up with him one year on.

Brave Kai Shersby has fought a long, hard battle for life not hinted at in his calm, unassuming manner.

The self-assured, courageous teenager has overcome not one, but two aggressive, life-threatening illnesses.

As classmates at Featherby Junior School, Gillingham, attended lessons in 2006, Kai, then aged six, was diagnosed with an immune deficiency disorder which prevented his body fighting infection.

It was the start of a daunting challenge which he gamely tackled armed with gruelling treatments and a loving family.

Kai’s second major ordeal started two years later, aged eight, when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Now 15, Kai has spent two years of his young life in hospital, undergone 30 operations, extensive chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

His mum Aimee, 35, having been at his side throughout all his pain and trials, describes Kai as “simply amazing and so brave”. She said: “He has never complained once.”

This led to her nominating him for a Ward and Partners Children’s Award in 2013 and to Kai winning his age group’s category for triumph over adversity.

Aimee, of Headcorn Road, Twydall, said that even as a young child Kai was frequently ill and hospitalised, suffering constant ear and chest infections.

In 2006, Medway Maritime Hospital referred Kai to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) where he was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia.

Kai’s treatment involved infusions of replacement antibodies to enable his body to fight infection.

In February 2008, Kai was diagnosed with an advanced stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system.

Aimee, who had just found out she was pregnant with daughter Lexi, said the news was “heartbreaking”.

The cancer had spread around Kai’s body and he was started on a four-month course of intensive chemotherapy.

Doctors told Aimee that his only chance of survival was a stem cell transplant.

A match was found through the Anthony Nolan register and the transplant took place at GOSH in July 2009.

The operation and recovery were tough-going, leaving Kai weak and exhausted.

He was in hospital for eight weeks for the transplant and off school afterwards for six months.

Doctors were delighted with the exceptional speed of his recovery and Kai has remained in remission.

Aimee paid tribute to her family for their support, to paediatrician Dr Singham Surinder who has cared for Kai throughout his illnesses at both the Medway hospital and at GOSH and to CLIC Sargent, the charity that supports children with cancer, and their families.

Kai, who has just started year 11 at Robert Napier School, Gillingham, is preparing for his main GCSEs this summer, delighted with the C grade he gained a year early in GCSE beliefs and ethics.

His success is all the sweeter after his health played havoc with his early education, a situation remedied as much as possible through home tutoring.

Kai said: “When I was ill, I just got on with it. I don’t look back, when things need to be done they need to be done and I have always just gone forward.”

He and his family were thrilled when he won the Ward’s award.

A keen Chelsea Football Club supporter and history enthusiast, Kai spent some of his prize money on a new computer and iPad.

Aimee said of the awards: “I think when children have been through so much, they deserve something nice to happen.

“We had such an amazing afternoon at the awards ceremony, although it was also very emotional.

“Kai really deserved his award as he is simply amazing and so brave.”

For more details on the categories and how to make a nomination, clickhere.