A teenager who trekked 100 miles across the Netherlands to raise money for his school was one of more than 100 students honoured for their achievements at a ceremony last week.
Viktor Woloszczuk, of Gunnersbury Catholic School, in Brentford, was awarded a Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award during the ceremony, held over two days last Wednesday and Thursday at Brentford's Watermans Arts Centre.
The 15-year-old was rewarded for having completed the International Four Day Marches through Nijmegen last July. He raised more than £1,000 for his school by joining tens of thousands of participants in the annual event, held to promote health.
He was one of 116 young people aged 11-25 from 13 schools and two clubs across the borough of Hounslow to be recognised at last week's awards ceremony.
Like all the winners, he received a medallion, a framed certificate and a cheque for £200, which he spent the money on some time in the cockpit of a flight simulator at a pilot training school for himself and fellow pupils.
The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up in 1999 by the eponymous self-made millionaire to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society. It has awarded £336,000 to youth organisations in Hounslow since funding started in 2006.
Among the other winners were:
* Laura Barr, 15, of Feltham Community College, who was honoured for supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pupils at her school as a peer mentor.
Together with fellow students she persuaded the college to become a Stonewall Champion School, ensuring the rights of LGBT pupils are respected.
JPF coordinator Hazel Hughes said: "Laura is always willing to give up her own time to support students through her role as a Peer Mentor. She has definitely needed to challenge herself and come out of her comfort zone to complete this work, as she is by nature quite reserved."
* Hannah Edney, 17, of Sportac Acrobatic Gymnastics Club, in Feltham.
She was the first teenager in the country to complete her British Gymnastics Teenage Academy booklet, which involved volunteering, attending courses, developing practical skills and completing a project for her club. She spent the £200 grant on a half-bending bar for the club.
* Rajan Mahoon, 14, of Lampton School, in Hounslow, who has been coaching year seven and eight players in the school's Basketball Academy for the last two years.
JPF coordinator Lawrence Carroll said: "Rajan's ability to teach these students is amazing. He helps out with everything that we do and is totally reliable. A top performer in the classroom, he was also a London Regional selected player last season."
* Nine students from West Thames College, in Isleworth, who all demonstrated determination and success in their personal and college lives: Iqra Abubaker, 18; Billy Lamb, 15; Cecily Johnson, 23; Andrew Gil Kay, 18; Christopher Periera, 17; Kayley Wilton, 18; Shakira Harding, 19; Sameya Shah, 20; and Akash Chawla, 16.
