Young people who have bravely coped with serious illness will be honoured and rewarded in Keighley tomorrow evening.

Catherine Livsey, 25, Lewis Parker, 14, Estelle Dickinson and Rebekah Judson, both eight, and Eleanor Nolan, 11, have been put forward to share Holy Family Catholic School’s annual £2,500 Danny Ryan Memorial Fund.

The fund was established 25 years ago after the death of the school’s former deputy head, Danny Ryan. This year’s beneficiaries will receive their awards from Mr Ryan’s widow, Eileen, at a presentation and dance event at the school.

Catherine, a former Holy Family pupil from Shann Park, has recently been diagnosed with type one diabetes.

She must regularly test her blood sugar levels and take injections.

Her mother has recently resigned from her post as a teaching assistant so she can spend more time with her.

Lewis, a year ten Holy Family student from West Lane, has digestive problems that can be extremely painful.

He has had two hospital operations to try to alleviate the condition.

Sean Gilligan, a former Holy Family deputy head who has helped administer the awards for many years, said: “So many of Lewis’s teachers speak highly of him and he doesn’t allow his medical condition to get the better of him.”

Estelle, from Long Lee, is a pupil at Braithwaite School. She has Rett Syndrome — a very rare condition which is usually only found in girls.

The condition affects both mental and physical capabilities and Estelle sometimes needs to use a wheelchair. Eleanor, from Halifax, was born with mobility problems and needs annual medical appointments to check the growth rate of her heart.

She has had difficulties with her joints, balancing and making herself understood.

She will face jaw re-alignment surgery when she is older and was diagnosed with type one diabetes in May of this year.

Rebekah, from Oakworth, lives with cerebral palsy, which affects her mobility and stability. Despite her condition she attends West Yorkshire Dance Academy sessions at weekends.

Dance teacher Mary Eckersley-Fielding said: “Rebekah is fiercely independent and woe betide anyone who tries to help her too much.”