Kingsbury teenager is shortlisted for Damilola Taylor Trust award
Jai Padhiar, 17, is a finalist for the Spirit of London awards
A teenage charity fundraiser from Kingsbury has been shortlisted for an award honouring the most inspirational young people in the capital.
Jai Padhiar, 17, has been nominated as a finalist in the Spirit of London awards.
They are run by the Damilola Taylor Trust and celebrate young people who are making a positive difference to their communities.
There were more than 4,000 nominations this year in each of the ten achievement categories. Jai has made it to the final three in Sporting Achievement.
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Speaking to the Times, he said it was a “huge honour”.
He said: “It was a very proud moment. I am so honoured just to be nominated for it, it’s unreal.”
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The keen sportsman, who used to attend Kingsbury High School in Princes Avenue, represented Brent in the 800 metres at the London Youth Games and took part in the 2011 London Mini Marathon.
He was also one of the five children chosen to spend a day at the David Beckham football academy.
However, it was his selfless fundraising that caught the eye.
Jai has raised more than �70,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and helped at charity events for the South Indian Tsunami Appeal. He also spent a summer in Nigeria building a water pump.
He explained: “It’s important to realise that not everyone is as fortunate as you are and that I am really quite lucky to be in the position I am in, so I want to give something back.”
The finalists will be heading to Downing Street at the end of this month to meet Prime Minister David Cameron before the awards ceremony at the O2 on December 10.
