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STEPHANIE McGougan, 18,
from Maybole has been hailed Scotland's bravest big sister.
Her moving story brought tears and a huge ovation from the
audience in Glasgow City Halls. And Stephanie was named
Young Scot 2009 at the Sunday Mail/Lloyds TSB Scotland
awards.
Stephanie’s life fell
apart when her mum and dad died within 18 months of each
other. She was just 16 at the time, and had to persuade
social workers she could bring up younger brother Robert.
Two years on, Stephanie has succeeded in her fight to build
a stable and loving home for them both. And Robert was first
to greet Stephanie when she left the stage clutching her
award. She had already picked up the Sunday Mail readers'
award. But after winning Young Scot, Stephanie said:
"Winning the first award was enough but words can't describe
how I felt when I won the Young Scot award. "When I went up
to collect it I couldn't say a thing and my mouth was
totally dry.” Robert, 16, and Stephanie's boyfriend Andrew
Anderson, 19, led the standing ovation with barely a dry eye
in the audience.
A moving video revealed
Stephanie's determination to keep her family together after
dad James, 55, died of cancer in 2006. Her mum Rosina, 47,
died after an epileptic fit just 18 months later. Robert
said: "It's been really hard since our parents died but
Stephanie has always been there to get me through. She is
one in a million." From hundreds of nominations it was
Stephanie's story that moved the judges and touched the
hearts of the star-studded audience. The glittering night
was hosted by TV presenter Jenni Falconer, who said:
“Stephanie is truly inspiring.” Celebrities at the event
included Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, while chart-toppers The
Saturdays played two of their hits. |
