YOUNG Health Champions from the borough took to the national stage to highlight the dangers of sepsis.

They appeared at the Royal Society of Public Health Young Health Movement Conference in London on Wednesday, where they unveiled a video they had created talking about the symptoms of sepsis, toxic shock syndrome and meningitis.

Leading the campaign was the family of Jemma Roberts, who tragically died aged 13 as a result of sepsis.

The Wigan schoolgirl’s story was told in the video by Jemma’s brother Joseph and her friends.

Jemma’s mum Diane encouraged her friends and family to get involved in the Royal Society of Public Health’s Young Health Champions programme and the video was created as part of the week-long course.

The video has been praised and shared by UK Sepsis Trust and went down a storm with the conference.

Kayleigh, a Young Health Champion, said: “The training was an amazing experience that allowed us the opportunity to create something we are all so passionate about while also making an impact and creating awareness.”

There are a number of Young Health Champions being trained up across the borough, including in Leigh, by Wigan Council’s public health team.

The Young Health Champions support friends and fellow pupils and encourage their peers to lead healthy lives.

The scheme is open to anyone aged 14 to 20.

It gives them the chance to complete a certificate, which is equivalent to a GCSE qualification, and the skills and knowledge needed to encourage others to make the right choices.

Cllr Jim Moodie, lead member for leisure and public health at the council, said: “We are really proud of our Young Health Champions, who have shown great courage in talking openly about a topic which has affected them personally.

“Jemma’s family should also take much credit for the tireless work they have done in raising awareness of sepsis, which so cruelly took her life so young.

“Young Health Champions is a fantastic programme which is helping new generations make healthy choices from an early age that will help them to go on and achieve so much in life.”

To watch the video made by the Young Health Champions visit youtube.com/watch?v=4cggQa7cGbk&feature=youtu.be.

A workshop to create more Young Health Champions is being run by the council from 9.30am to 4.30pm at Leigh Town Hall on Thursday, August 17.

Places can be booked by calling Charlie Bracher on 01942 487957.