Belton’s Jack wins personality award.

Jack Marshall, 16, of Belton has been named Personality of the Year in Yorkshire’s Young Achievers of 2014.

He was among a star studded audience of TV and sporting names when last week’s surprise announcement was made.

Jack, who has Moebius Syndrome, is unable to walk unassisted, has difficulty with hearing and sight, and is unable to smile.

Despite this he has completed the Great North and Great Manchester Junior runs on several occasions as well as climbing Yorkshire’s Three Peaks and Snowdon.

A record audience were there to see the awards ceremony at Leeds United’s Centenary Pavilion, which celebrates achievements of people aged under 35. Chairman of the awards Peter McCormick OBE made the presentation to Jack, who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity, despite his own severe disabilities.

There were also awards for Emmerdale actors Verity Rushworth (the late Donna Windsor-Dingle), Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor) and Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden) and Premier League footballer James Milner.

Jack, who is currently studying independent living at college in York, attended the ceremony with 20-year-old sister Jaimie and mum Linda, who said: “The Yorkshire Young Achiever Foundation is where Jack won his first ever award, seven years ago, when he received the Youngster of the Year award.

“It was a fabulous night and he didn’t know anything about it.

“He thought he was going to say thank you for being given money towards his racing wheelchair so it came as a complete shock. He’s never going to trust us again after this, and Nick Grimshaw popping in at home (to present him with the BBC Radio 1 Stephen Sutton Teen Hero Award).”

Mr McCormick said: “Our 22nd year proved another night to remember. The awards are a celebration of all that is good about young people in Yorkshire and we had some tremendous examples in our winners.

“I must also underline that none of this would be possible without the unstinting support of our sponsors and from guests at the awards.”

A special award to mark his contribution was made to previous winner Kelvin Fletcher who has supported the event ever since he took the Achievement in the Arts Award in 2001.

Jack and family are currently in the process of organising a charity ball in Scunthorpe in January in aid of blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.