AN AWARD-WINNING Inverclyde boxer turned 'peacemaker' is fronting the campaign to find this year's Inverclyde Young Citizen of the Year 2024.

Rhys McCole, who now runs his own boxing training camps to help take youngsters off the streets, says winning last year's title was "life-changing".

Young boxing champ Rhys is now encouraging local people to nominate deserving young people for the award, set up by Gourock Rotary Club in the name of retired eye surgeon Dr Sadhu Gupta.

The 23-year-old, who works with Police Scotland and in local secondary schools, said: "It was such an honour to be named Young Citizen of the Year. You never expect recognition like that. And then I went on to be named UK Peacemaker of the Year by the Rotary.

"It is a fantastic opportunity to recognise young people in Inverclyde. There are so many who are doing great things and contributing to the community. But they don't always get the recognition they deserve.

"I would encourage local people to nominate someone."

Rhys, a disability ambassador and community campaigner, has devoted his life to helping young people in Inverclyde, having overcome his own health problems.

Gourock Rotary Club set up the Sadhu Gupta Young Citizen of the Year award two years ago, with Dr Gupta's family, to recognise the achievements of young people across Inverclyde.

There is still time to nominate, with the closing date for entries now Friday, November 1.

The Sadhu Gupta Award winner will receive £200 and an engraved trophy, and will also go on to be nominated for the UK's Rotary National Young Citizen Award.

Dr Gupta, who lives in Kilmacolm, has devoted his life to helping gift sight to people in the poorest countries in the world.

The  Delhi-born eye specialist juggled his work in Inverclyde with charity work in clinics in places such as Nepal and Ethiopia.

His work is internationally recognised, with a scholorship in his name in the Royal College of London and also a clinic named after him in Delhi.

The Sadhu Gupta Award was officially launched in July.

The first winner of the Gourock Rotary Young Citizen of the Year prize was cancer charity campaigner Molly Cuddihy in 2022, with Rhys following in Molly's footsteps the following year.

The Rotary club is looking to celebrate the vital contribution young people make and to recognise positive role models.

The Young Citizen Award is open to anyone under the age of 25. To nominate a young person email Norman Pettigrew at gourockrotary@gmail.com.