How Pride of Britain winners enjoyed a fabulous cruise holiday

United Kingdom

A football fan who raised over £260,000 for charity by selling samosas. A mother who dived into the sea to save a 10-year-old boy from drowning. And a five-year-old girl whose incredible courage helped her rebuild her life after losing both legs.

These are just three of the inspirational winners celebrated at the 2024 Pride of Britain Awards. Chosen from tens of thousands of public nominations, these everyday heroes were honoured at a glittering London ceremony co-hosted by Ashley Banjo and Carol Vorderman.

Then came an unforgettable surprise. P&O Cruises, the new headline partner for the Pride of Britain Awards, gifted each of the 12 winners a cruise holiday – a chance to share a wonderful, memory-making trip with their families.

We caught up with three heroes who experienced a 14-night Caribbean adventure on board Britannia, visiting eight sun-soaked islands and enjoying world-class entertainment.

Just before her fourth birthday, Aiyla Mota fell ill with what seemed like a normal childhood infection. Within days, it turned into sepsis, causing multiple organ failure and forcing doctors to amputate both her legs and five fingers to save her life.

Now five, Aiyla has made an extraordinary recovery. Her courage and positivity have amazed everyone around her, earning her a Pride of Britain Award and becoming one of the youngest-ever winners.

Her proud mother, Eulanda, 28, from Middlesex, says: “Aiyla has always had a bubbly personality, and despite what she’s been through, she’s lost none of that sparkle. In fact, she’s even louder, more confident and bubblier than before. She’s like Aiyla times 100!

“My nan says it’s as if she knows she got a second chance at life and is taking full advantage.”

After being presented with her prize by P&O Cruises, Aiyla and her mother travelled to the Caribbean along with Aiyla’s grandmother, Trisha, and Eulanda’s partner, Louis. They enjoyed discovering some of Britannia’s 27 restaurants and bars, eight live entertainment venues and four swimming pools.

“The cruise was an incredible holiday, and I’m so grateful to P&O Cruises for such an amazing opportunity,” says Eulanda. “It was the first time we had ever been on a cruise, and we really didn’t know quite what to expect.

“One thing that surprised us was that sometimes you forgot you were on a ship because there was just so much to do.

“Aiyla really loved the kids’ club, all the entertainment, and staying up late! And on the islands we visited, she loved the beaches and a trip into the rainforest.

“For me, the call to Barbados was very special. My dad and my grandparents came from there, but I had never been before. But as soon as I stepped ashore, I felt so blessed to be there and to know that this is where my family originally came from. I really felt a connection.”

undraiser extraordinaire Manny Singh Kang has cooked up a novel way of raising money for Dementia UK over the past seven years.

It was in 2018 that the lifelong Wolverhampton Wanderers fan first hit on the idea of offering homemade samosas outside the club’s ground on matchdays in return for donations.

Since then, his Samosa Saturdays, along with a series of marathon walks, runs and cycle rides, have raised well over £260,000 for the charity.

“I’m a Sikh, and an important part of our faith is about trying to serve your community in any way you can,” says Manny, 52.

“I just happened to be reading about dementia and was shocked by how prevalent it had become and the need to raise money for research into what causes it and how to treat it.”

His extraordinary fundraising efforts earned him a trip to the Caribbean courtesy of
P&O Cruises, which was a chance to finally put his feet up after walking and cycling all those miles for charity.

He was accompanied on board Britannia by his wife, Shabi, his sons, Jeevan and Satnam, and his daughter, Tavan.

“The most glorious thing about being on the ship was seeing the sun rise and set over the sea, looking out from the balcony outside our cabin,” said Manny.

“Of the eight islands we visited, the ones that stood out for me were Aruba, with its blue seas and golden sands, and St Kitts and Nevis, with volcanic mountains, a lot of greenery and waterfalls. All the islands were beautiful, almost like paintings. The whole trip was so memorable.

“It was great to have all the family together. It was a brilliant experience and a wonderful gesture by P&O Cruises.

Emily Greenwood was enjoying a winter walk along her local Cornish beach with her disabled son, Isaac, when an unexpected drama unfolded before their eyes.

A 10-year-old boy surfing on a bodyboard had been caught in a riptide and was being dragged rapidly out to sea. His mother screamed in panic as her partner swam out to help, only to be swept into the same strong current.

Emily, 53, a mother of three, paused only to push Isaac’s wheelchair to a safe spot on the sand at Holywell Bay before diving into the icy water. Battling freezing temperatures and powerful waves, she swam 400 metres to reach the pair.

“The boy kept shouting, ‘We’re going to die,’” Emily recalls. “I told them, ‘Stay calm and follow my instructions.’”

Using the bodyboard as a flotation device, she guided them back to shore, sheer adrenaline driving her on.

Her bravery earned her a Pride of Britain Award, which led to the prize of a fantastic Caribbean cruise, travelling with Isaac, her daughter Isobel and Isobel’s friend Tamar.

“It was the first time any of us had ever been on a cruise, and it was an absolute dream holiday,” says Emily, who, as well as being a full-time carer for Isaac, runs a small craft business from home, making holiday souvenirs.

“The crew were incredible, and nothing was too much trouble, especially where Isaac was concerned. He has food intolerances linked to his disability that mean I usually have to cook all his meals, and that can be tricky when we are away from home.

“But on the cruise, I was able to pre-order every meal the day before with instructions about his dietary requirements, and the kitchen staff would carefully prepare and cook them to order. For me, not having to do all his cooking myself for once was a real luxury.”

The family loved exploring the Caribbean’s glorious beaches. “Isaac has a special beach wheelchair, so he could enjoy the warm water. It was like hydrotherapy,” Emily says.

“As a family, we’re all beach people, so being able to relax together in such beautiful surroundings was unforgettable.”