Young Hero: Saif Mubarak nominated for BBC award

Saif Mubarak is a 10-year-old boy from London.

In the past five years he has survived cancer, had a leg amputated, and experienced the death of his father.

Now he helps and inspires others in similar situations - and has been nominated in the Young Hero category of the BBC Make a Difference Awards.

My name is Saif and I'm 10 years old and I survived osteosarcoma.

I was five years old and my legs started to hurt and I started limping.

I got very sick and then I had to go to three different hospitals.

I had to get my leg taken off.

Osteosarcoma is like... a disease that you get anywhere your bone is and it's cancer and I got it.

Now I'm in remission and I'm enjoying life.

I got my leg, my prosthetic leg, when I was six years old.

I joined the running club and Mike helped me use my blade properly.

I had to practise quite a lot.

Even though I did take a few tumbles, I did push my way through.

When I was in recovery and I was recovering from all the chemotherapy and all that stuff, my father died.

I was really, really sad.

I had to be really brave and push through it.

I've been through a hard time and I'd like to think that I could help other people that was in my situation.

Being nominated for the BBC Award, I feel great and excellent, and I feel quite humble about myself.

I feel confident.

Mike Antoniades

Performance & Rehabilitation Director, Movement & Running School

"Saif comes here twice a week. The first thing that we did is teach him how to walk without the crutches and then teach him how to move and develop his gross motor skills [large muscle movements, such as standing and walking].

"My objective in particular was to help him with his movement so he was confident and not feel that he had a problem.

"That came very, very quickly because he's a very strong personality and he's very positive about things."

Jonathan Perera

Orthopaedic Oncology Surgeon

"Saif was diagnosed with a primary cancer of his bone just above his knee joint. He underwent significant treatment with chemotherapy, above-knee amputation and further chemotherapy.

"He coped with it exceptionally well. He's now over five years down the line from his initial diagnosis.

"He walks around or runs around most of the time with no limitations.

"He has shown true grit and determination.

"He is a shining star and he is a hero.

"I think Saif is well deserving of a BBC Make a Difference Award."

This year's award categories are:

• The Volunteer Award for an individual who makes a notable difference to the community by giving their time voluntarily to help others
• The Community Group Award for a group who have helped to change the lives of others within their community
• The Fundraiser Award for an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause
• The Young Hero Award for an under-16 individual or group of under-16s who have made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional
• The Great Neighbour Award for someone who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness
• The Active Award for an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community
• The Environmental Award for an individual or group of people who improve or conserve their local environment
• The Animal Award for a remarkable animal that improves people's lives or an individual or group of people who improve the welfare of animals

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