Our History
1989
Joanne Gillespie received a Children of Courage Award.
Joanne’s book Brave Heart is published. She received a North East Personality Award.
Autumn - Charity Dinner at the Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle. Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits played and helped to raise £35,000.
November - First Brave Heart Presentation held by Tyne Tees Television. Joanne received a Brave Heart Award.
1990
Brave Hearts of the North East is born as a registered charity and 22 children are given a holiday to Disney World in Florida.
Annual presentations are established. They have been held at various North East venues but now are regularly held at St. James’ Park.
2005
Brave Hearts held a Valentines Ball at St. James’ Park. A major fundraiser.
2023
Over seven hundred Brave Heart Awards presented.
The Original Brave Heart
In 1989 a National Children of Courage Award was made to a young girl from the North East, Joanne Gillespie. Joanne, who was 11, had endured two major operations and fought back against a recurring brain tumour. In order to help other children who would go through such experiences, Joanne turned the diary of her recovery into a book, published in 1989 under the title 'Brave Heart'. It immediately received public acclaim as an inspiration to other sick children and their families.
Our First Gala Dinner
When Joanne was being recognised as a child of courage, among those present at the award ceremony was Robin Alexander, a member of Hexham Round Table about to start his year as Community Service Committee Chairman. Robin was so inspired by Joanne's story that he sought to make the cornerstone of his year an appeal to establish recognition and reward for other children with similar stories. The fundraising effort proved a great success, culminating in the autumn of 1989 with a gala charity dinner held at the Mayfair Ballroom (a venue where "The Gate" now stands) at which the cabaret for the evening was headlined by Dire Straits. Over £35,000 was raised. As a consequence of the fundraising effort, it was possible to send 22 children to Disney World in Florida. Other children whose illness or handicap prevented them from travelling received computers, videos, or other equipment intended to enhance their lives.
The Charity Is Born
It soon became apparent that the undertaking had grown beyond anyone's wildest dreams, and it was decided that it was too big to remain simply as part of Hexham Round Table's community service effort. Consequently, Brave Hearts was registered as a Charity in its own right. This is now 'Brave Hearts of the North East', and the Round Table link remains through the Charity's Trustees, many of whom have been members of Hexham Round Table.
Present Day
Brave Hearts has now awarded more than 700 awards to brave children in the North East. It is the continued kindness of our supporters and partners that allow us to continue recognising and rewarding our brave hearts.
