Mum's praise for amazing Kaycee (From Croydon Guardian)

Mum's praise for amazing Kaycee

7:10am Friday 26th August 2011 in Croydon Champions News By Isabella Cookson

A seven-year-old girl has been nominated for the "Child of Courage" award for supporting her mother after the suicide of her father last year.

Jade Brooker described her daughter Kaycee Brooker-Martin as her rock, following the death of 26-year-old Lewis Robert Martin-Hall in October 2010.

Since the tragedy last year, the brave and gifted child performed solo at a fund-raising event, organised by her great uncle, Keith Preddie, to raise money for the charity Cruse Bereavement Care.

Kaycee sang the song No-One by Alicia Keys, to an audience at the ACA in Central Parade in April.

Miss Brooker, 26, of Biggin Way, Upper Norwood, said: "She is a young child who should be enjoying life with her friends, but she has transformed from a child to an adult overnight.

“She is a remarkable, bright and talented seven year-old who has been my rock since this has happened. It's in the daily little things that she helps me and I can see she is staying strong for me by not getting upset in front of me.

“She has obviously been hit hard by the death of her father, but the way she is coping with it all is amazing. I'm very proud of her".

Although very excited to be nominated for the award, Kaycee said: “Sometimes I feel sad and angry about it all, but I'm coping really well at school”.

Every week we feature some of Croydon's heroes on this page and need your nominations. Nominees will be shortlisted and invited to an award ceremony in November.