A TEENAGER who lives in the knowledge he could go blind at any time has won a national education award.

Whitworth High School pupil Matthew Haven, 15, travelled to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London to collect his America On Line (AOL) Child of Resolution award from British astronaut Helen Sharman and Capital FM DJ Neil Long. He also had a coach tour and visit to the Houses of Parliament.

Matthew, from Whitworth, won the award for showing exceptional effort in his education and schooling despite already suffering from a serious visual impairment. He has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Von Villibrands Syndrome but has always coped in mainstream schools despite his poor eyesight and other problems associated with his condition. Whitworth High School deputy head Denise Parkinson said: "Matthew has shown commitment and dedication with a maturity beyond his years.

"Last summer he was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation and had to keep his head totally still for four months but he was back in school full-time by September."

The awards are recognised by the National Association for the Education of Sick Children and organised by AOL, the world's largest internet subscription service.

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