Last month, we celebrated four amazing 2024 Champion Award recipients at our annual Kids Chronic Health Awareness Event. Each year, at this event, we honor youths with chronic conditions who have shown extraordinary leadership in and/or commitment to their school and community with Champion Awards. We are excited to share with you about the remarkable individuals whose leadership, advocacy, and community involvement we recognized.
Before he’d even turned 10 years old, Champion Award recipient Bodhi Bhattarai of Concord testified in front of both the Concord City Council and the New Hampshire State Legislature about the need to make playgrounds more accessible for everyone with varying abilities. He has also played a significant role in the development of accessible walking trails with the Audubon Society in Concord by testing them out and providing his valuable feedback.
Bodhi was nominated by Kathy Bates who recently interviewed him for her blog, From Where I Sit. Kathy wrote about Bodhi, “Most notably, what makes Bodhi unique is that he is already establishing his reputation as a budding young advocate… My conversations with him give me hope for the future of advocacy and the disability rights movement.”
Champion Award recipient Hannah Vigeant of Merrimack has been advocating and volunteering with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for most of her life, including 3 years as a Teen Advocate during virtual Teen Advocacy Day with representatives in Washington, D.C. and 2 years as a Great Strides Ambassador. She has helped her family raise just over $125,000 for the CF Foundation within her lifetime. Additionally, Hannah became a Make-A-Wish Ambassador at 7 years old and has been active ever since, giving speeches to crowds from 10 to 400 people.
Hannah has been involved in her local community as a cheerleader, volunteer, and cheer coach. She is a recent high school graduate heading off to the University of Rhode Island, where she will major in English and Communications.
Champion Award recipient Juan Rubio-Colon of Meredith is a unified athlete and a leader within his community. He is described as a “shining light in his school community” who looks out for his classmates and checks in with them, as well as “an integral member” of his Life skills Program at Interlakes High School. Juan was recently recognized as Laker of the Month at his high school and is a Class of 2024 graduate. Congratulations, Juan! Thank you for being a leader and role model.
Champion Award recipient Ava Gregory of Keene has been involved in the REACH program through the NH Dance Institute, where she danced with 30 other dancers who have various chronic conditions and abilities. She is described as a “role model and leader” to other kids with chronic conditions:
“Back stage and during rehearsals Ava was very caring to all the other dancers. She helped to tie shoes and fix costumes. She spoke with dancers to calm their nerves before going on stage. She played games to pass the time. When one dance took a wrong turn backstage she stayed with that dancer until an adult came to help. Ava made a connection with every dancer on the team and made sure everyone was happy and included.”