Exceptional Youth – December winners

Derek Brandon was the December winner of our Exceptional Youth competition which in run in association with The Times. Derek won £200 of vouchers which were donated by www.dixons.co.uk.

You can enter now to be in with a chance of being our January winner. The aim of the competition is to celebrate those who inspire us on a daily basis – whether it is your mum, your teacher or a friend.

We all have someone who supports us and helps us achieve our dreams and to enter you need to send in a picture of the inspirational person and short description of why they are so important. You could win up to £1000 of photographic equipment.

Derek's inspiration: "Dean is my son, and the founder of the 'Your Local Cinema .com' information service.

"It organises and publicises cinema shows with subtitles, for hearing impaired people, and audio description (narration), for visually impaired people.Dean started the service so he and his disabled friends, and their families, could enjoy the cinema like everyone else.

"Dean was born three months premature, and spent the first three months of his life in St. Thomas' Hospital, London, with his mum by his bedside.

"At two weeks old Dean suffered a massive infection, which led to many complications. The end result leaving him with cerebral palsy, profound deafness and a visual impairment. At two weeks old he was given the last rites, by the same priest that many months later, Christened him.

"These disabilities have been no barrier to Dean, he attends a mainstream school, loves movies, swimming and football, and is a computer whizzkid.

"He is immensely determined and feels he can overcome any problem he is faced with. He's a superhero, and his family and friends are extremely proud of his achievements."

You can find Derek’s picture of Dean, plus inspiring pictures and words from the December runners-up at www.exceptionalyouth.org and on www.timesonline.co.uk/student.