This year The Sun launched the brand new Saffie’s Smile Award, in collaboration with the family of little Saffie-Rose Roussos – the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena terror attack-to mark what would have been her 16th birthday.

The competition was set up to honour Saffie’s memory, and celebrate other incredible young people aged 16 or under who go above and beyond to help others.

Saffie’s dad Andrew said: “Saffie wasn’t just the youngest victim of a terror attack. She was a lot more, she was a bubbly, kind girl who always thought of others. We wanted to move away from the way she died and celebrate who she was in life. The Sun have helped to do that by creating this award in her honour.”

The Roussos family with The Sun have chosen Ruby Reid, 16 from St Blazey in Cornwall.

By poignant coincidence, the teen shares the same birthday as Saffie Roussos although Saffie didn’t get to see any of the birthdays after her 8^th. 

Andrew said: “When we read Ruby’s entry – she came across so much like Saffie and meeting her we can see their similarities.”

Ruby, after being bullied at school by girls who encouraged her to end her life, took a near fatal overdose just after her 9^th birthday.

While Ruby spent eight hours in resus with doctors unsure whether she’d survive, after three days in hospital Ruby regained consciousness. 

Diagnosed with depression, Ruby had counselling and therapy but shortly after her 10th birthday in 2020, tragedy struck again when her older brother, Charley, 25, unable to cope with lockdown took his own life.

Less than two years after Charley died, at Christmas in 2021, Ruby’s beloved grandad died of a massive stroke. Ruby’s mum, Emma, administered CPR while she waited for an ambulance with Ruby, just 13 at the time waking up to the paramedics trying to save her grandad’s life.

Ruby’s mum has ME and can’t do too much without exhaustion so despite being just 16 she cooks almost every meal and does the lionshare of the work around the house. She also volunteers at a local aquarium to gain experience before beginning local college to study Animal Care.

But despite Ruby’s short 16 years marred by heartbreak no one should have to endure, the brave teen sees the brightest and the best in everything, and stands up for people who need it and was made a prefect in school.

Emma Reid said: “Ruby is my world – it’s just me and her and because of my ME and not being able to work, I could never afford to take her to New York. Charley promised he’d take her but he died before he could fulfil his promise. She’s so thoughtful and deserving – things like this don’t happen to people like us. Ruby lacks confidence and doesn’t believe in herself very much. She stands up for others but never thinks she’s worth very much. Charley adored her and he’d be so proud of the young woman she’s turned into.”

Ruby, as winner of the competition, receives two flights for a break in New York, while the three runners-up will each get VIP theme park passes, as well as being celebrated in the paper. 

Andrew and Lisa Roussos were inspired to launch the special award to ensure their daughter Saffie would be remembered for more than just the Manchester Arena bombing.

Andrew Roussos said: “As a family, we wanted to do something positive, something uplifting and joyful, because that is what Saffie was. She was a very giving and loving child.

“To reward another child or young person who has gone above and beyond in their lives to do something good for somebody else is an amazing legacy.”

ENDS