Jane Sutton and Steven Shiels

The first students to receive a scholarship named after Burntwood fundraiser Stephen Sutton MBE have graduated.

Jane Sutton and Steven Shiels
Jane Sutton and Steven Shiels

They were congratulated by his mother Jane at a ceremony at Coventry University yesterday (November 22).

Four students had their tuition fees paid through the Stephen Sutton Scholarship – the first of a total of 50 which will be awarded by 2020.

The funding has come from the £5.6million raised by Stephen, who died in 2014. Jane has continued her son’s legacy through a range of fundraising activities, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise more than £10,500.

“To be invited back to Coventry University, two years on from collecting Stephen’s posthumous honorary doctorate in science, and witness the first students to graduate after benefiting from the Stephen Sutton Scholarship is an honour and a privilege,” she said.

Stephen Sutton
Stephen Sutton

“Stephen’s wish was for every young person diagnosed with cancer to receive the best possible care and treatment. He would be thrilled to know these scholarships are playing such an important role in developing the knowledge of professionals working with young cancer patients and are therefore instrumental in helping to fulfil his wish. ”

Among those who graduated was Steven Shiels, a social worker with cancer support charity Clic Sargent.

He said: “Completing the Post Graduate Certificate in Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Care has been a rewarding experience, and everything I have learnt will help me achieve the best possible results for the young cancer patients I work with in my role at CLIC Sargent.”

Applications for the scholarship are invited from anyone working with teenagers and young adults with cancer – including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, youth workers, and social workers. For more information visit the Coventry University website.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.