Jake Brightman, 11, of Rushden, became one of only 14 people in the country to receive a Children's Champion award for his fundraising work at a glittering gala ceremony in London last week.

The award ceremony will be broadcast on Sky One and Sky One HD tomorrow at 8pm and during the event Jake and his family got to meet a host of celebrities.

Jake's mum said: "We are so immensely proud of Jake, not just for winning the award and his fundraising but for fighting to get his health back.

"He has come so far, and although he still has problems to overcome on a day-to-day basis he takes them in his stride."

Before the award ceremony, Jake and his family met Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, who was one of the awards judges, at 10 Downing Street.

At the ceremony, Jake was presented with his award by former Coronation Street actress Angela Griffin and X Factor stars Jedward.

He also got to meet a variety of other celebrities including Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, actor Ross Kemp, Sharon Osbourne and X Factor winner Joe McElderry as well as other stars from hit shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders.

The day after the ceremony Jake and the other winners were also taken on a surprise trip to Buckingham Palace where they met Prince Andrew.

Mrs Brightman said: "Jake was very nervous at the ceremony. He was a bit overcome by the whole thing but he did very well.

"It made Jake and his sister Emily's day to meet Joe McElderry and we got lots of autographs from different people."

The Harrold Priory Middle School student is the first person to win the new category of Friend's Award at The News of the World's Children's Champions Awards after he was nominated by his friends for raising £11,000 for The Children's Trust and The Sick Children's Trust.

He began raising the money after he suffered a bleed in his brain stem during a routine throat operation to correct his speech in 2006, which left him paralysed and unable to swallow.

Two weeks after the surgery he regained the movement in his fingers and six months later he slowly started walking again.

He is now much better but he is not as physically fit as other children, has scars on his neck and stomach and has to be monitored throughout the night as he is at risk of choking because part of his brain has died.

Jake's next fundraiser will be a fun run and walk at Stanwick Lakes on July 3 for The Children's Trust.