INSPIRATIONAL, phenomenal and outstanding - just some of the words used to describe Pride of Scotland winners Stevie Carr, 54, and Lucy Smith, 27.
The incredible duo’s selfless determination to improve the lives of others saw them honoured by the great and the good at our glittering event at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
Here we meet the three bighearted Scots, who stole hearts at the awards, in partnership with TSB.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION - STEVIE CARR
THERE wasn’t a dry eye in the room when the orphans Stevie Carr rescued from war-torn Ukraine surprised him on stage with one little girl whispering: “We love you Stevie.”
The big-hearted dad-of-three, from Perth, who has become a guardian angel to 50 Ukrainian children, choked back the tears as he picked up his Special Recognition award from STV newsreader Kelly Ann Woodland.
Steven is the driving force behind Dnipro Kids. The charity was born after Hibs played Ukrainian side Dnipro in the UEFA Cup in 2005. Travelling fans held a collection for a local orphanage, and maintained links after returning to Scotland, founding the charity and setting up a sponsorship scheme for orphans.
When Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, came under attack, Stevie formed a plan to rescue a group of children from five orphanages.
After flying to Poland, Steven went to the border to assess the situation. He then organised a bus from Poland to Lviv to transport the children and their carers to safety in two separate voyages.
After an agonising two-week wait for visas, and a specially arranged flight from Warsaw, the children arrived in Callander, Stirling in March, whilst preparations were made for a longer term stay in Edinburgh.
The kids are now all staying in the Edinburgh area with Ukrainian house mothers who care for them in groups of 12 with money raised by the charity and help provided by the community.
Stevie said: “It’s not often I am lost for words but I am tonight. I never imagined that attending a football match all those years ago would change my life forever. I believe some things happen for a reason.
“These kids are just the most amazing children. They’ve already had a hard start in life after losing their parents and now their country is being ripped to bits. I couldn’t not bring them to safety.
“What better place to bring them to than Scotland? A country that has welcomed them all with open arms and hearts. Seeing the overwhelming reaction to the kids tonight here at the awards makes me proud to be Scottish.”
He added: “I may have helped get them out of Ukraine but the real heroes are the Ukrainian house mothers who are looking after 12 children each. Looking after my own three is hard enough and I take my hat off to them.
“So many communities and families have rallied round us to make sure the kids are provided for and feel at home in Scotland and for that we will be forever grateful. We don’t know what the future holds for these kids but I’m confident Scotland will help them achieve their full potential.”
STV News at Six presenter Kelly Ann was so moved by Stevie’s rescue mission she had to compose herself backstage. She said: “Stevie is just the most incredible human being. He had me in tears. One of the little children whispered to him on stage We love you which really brought it all home. I am a mum of two little boys aged nine and five and I can’t imagine their lives being ripped apart. Stevie has brought them to a safe place.”
SPECIAL RECOGNITION LUCY SMITH
BRIGERTON’S Ruby Barker and Holby City’s Joe McFadden were over the moon to present MND warrior Lucy Smith with her well-deserved Special Recognition Award.
The actors both said it was a privilege and an honour to share the stage with the inspirational winner who has raised more then £200,000 for others and defied the odds to become a mum.
Lucy, who at 19 became the youngest Scot ever to be diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, has refused to let her illness define her and last December became the first MND sufferer to give birth twice.
Ruby, who plays Marina Thompson in the hit period drama, said: “I was so excited to meet Lucy and her beautiful family. She’s a legend and a role model to everyone. She is definitely a great Scot. A courageos champion.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2017 winner Joe said: “There are really no words to describe Lucy. She is beyond inspirational and it is a privilege to be here for her tonight. I am truly humbled by the grit and determination she has showed to achieve her dreams and be there for her family.”
In a surprise video message, Oscar winning actor Eddie Redmayne said: “Lucy your strength, your bravery and your sheer determination is an inspiration to me and the people of Scotland. You are amazing.”
In 2013, Lucy was about to start a business course at college following a year working at an American summer camp when her future changed forever. Doctors told her that a limp and slurred speech she had developed were symptoms of incurable and life-limiting motor neurone disease. They gave her just 18 months to live.
A diagnosis at 19 is incredibly rare but instead of cursing her bad luck, Lucy set out to make the most of the life she had left. She has since been busy ticking off the 45 items on her bucket list.
Now aged 27, she has been dubbed the MND Warrior, raising more than £200,000 for charity MND Scotland to help find a cure, despite knowing any breakthrough may not come in time to save her own life.
She and partner Tommy Smith were also determined to become parents despite doctors telling Lucy was told it was too risky to go through a pregnancy with MND at her time of diagnosis.
In February 2020, she gave birth to son LJ, coming off her medication to conceive. She was one of only five MND patients to become mothers after diagnosis. Defying doctors’ expectations and in what doctors say is a world first, she and Tommy recently welcomed a second baby, a daughter they named AR, into the world.
Lucy, who married the father of her “miracle children” in May, said: “I feel like the luckiest woman in the world now I have my husband and both my babies. Life is what you make it and I am determined to make the most of mine. Being at the Pride of Scotland awards is a memory we will always treasure as a family.”
CHART toppers Saint PHNX rocked the Assembly Rooms to their feet with a rousing rendition of their uplifting No.1 hit Happy Place.
Brothers Stevie and Alan Jukes, who wrote the song in memory of their dad Bertie who passed away last year, said it was an honour to perform for such an inspirational crowd.
The electrifying duo, from Wishaw, Lanarkshire, have been tearing up huge venues all over the world, supporting stars like Lewis Capaldi and notching up staggering online stats.
But the pair, who played the KingTuts stage at TRNSMT last month, agreed rocking the Pride of Scotland Awards was one of their most meaningful gigs to date.
Singer Stevie, who scored a Scottish No.1 with Happy Place, said: “We were honoured and humbled to be able to play to so many inspirational people. It was a pleasure to be able to celebrate their achievements.
“Our dad sadly died last year and we wrote that song in his memory. He was our hero and it felt fitting to be performing it for a room full of Scotland’s greatest unsung heroes. It was definitely a very ‘happy place’ to be.”
- The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with TSB, will broadcast on STV on Tuesday, July 19 at 8pm
