Lucas Hayward

Lucas was born with a facial disfigurement and has undergone numerous operations. Recently, he has been a highly effective campaigner for the Changing Faces charity, with articles in the national press, a poster campaign on the London Underground, and promoting an app for online shoppers to help raise money for the charity. He is also involved in a project with the BBC following his progress through his formative school years. Last month he collected a Diana Award on behalf of the Changing Faces charity at Canary Wharf. Lucas has experienced a great deal of negative reactions in the past, from strangers' comments to his appearance to bullying in High School. He has reacted to these not by hiding away or with hostility but with a desire to inform, educate and above all to show how much like any other 14-year old he is. Now that he has moved on to Secondary school, he has fitted in well and is thoroughly involved in school life. When the BBC followed him around in school for the afternoon some months ago, he carried this fame with modesty and confidence. Rather than the 'odd one out', he is regarded as quite cool by other students. Lucas is genuinely an inspiration to those around him; whilst clearly extraordinary in his situation and the opportunities this presents, he also shows us how ordinary he is too. He blends in with the crowd on a day to day basis, and every now and then rises above it to continue to promote the cause and show that he is more than just a pretty face!