Budding photographer and local COVID-19 hero Kian Cormier was welcomed into the Lionhearts squad this month, and treated to a special tutorial with England photographer Eddie Keogh.
Kian, 15, who is also autistic and has Asperger’s, hit the headlines earlier this year after producing visors and face shields with his 3D printer at home, for people in his local community in Surrey.
He set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the materials needed and any spare money was donated to local care homes and NHS Charities.
After the initial success, he was lent another 3D printer to continue his production and keep up with the increasing demand and he now has four 3D printers at home which he uses to produce the head bands before attaching a separate plastic sheet.
In total, he’s provided over 450 visors to care homes, supermarkets, beauticians, private carers, schools and the vulnerable to date, and raised over £1600 extra in the process.
The Lionhearts initiative, supported by BT, will pay homage to 23 inspirational individuals who have gone above and beyond during this challenging time for the nation.
Kian, who was awarded squad number 14, is also a keen photographer so when Eddie delivered the Lionhearts shirt to his home he was only too happy to show him some of the basics of sports photography.
And with the Three Lions squad staying close to Kian’s home in Bagshot during October’s international window, Kian accompanied Eddie to snap a training session as Gareth Southgate and the players were preparing for their games with Wales, Belgium and Denmark.
"All the work he has done over the last months, to get a reward like that, is incredible,” said Kian’s father, Chris.
"It's great for Eddie to take the time out of his day to come and do this, the look on Kian's face when he opened that door was amazing.”
The squad so far...
1.Captain Sir Tom Moore – Record-breaking centenarian who raised more than £32million for NHS Charities Together
2. Ranjit Singh – The wrestling coach from Wolverhampton helped organise daily meals for 300 people and the distribution of PPE equipment
5. Betty-Leigh Allinson – Football shirt enthusiast aged five who has raised over £27,000 for a Hertfordshire hospice through a cycling feat
9. Tobias Weller – Nine-year-old inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to raise almost £150,000 for Sheffield-based charities
10. Joe Wicks - The YouTube fitness coach led the nation and beyond through a daily exercise class for 18 weeks during lockdown.
12. Nana Badu – His organisation, BADU Sports, provided a helpline, food bank and deliveries to vulnerable members of the local community in Hackney.
14. Kian Cormier - The teenager produced visors for his local community in Surrey, while continuing his studies.
15. Hassan Akkad – Award-winning film maker who answered a call to be a cleaner in his local hospital before raising awareness of NHS bereavement fund
16. Akbar Khan - Bradford-based volunteer for a charity for people with disabilities who brought their community together during COVID-19 lockdown
18. Dema Aktaa - Syrian refugee who helped raise money for COVID-19 outbreaks in refugee camps by walking on her prosthetic leg.
19. Tony Hudgell - Celebrated young fundraiser who raised £1.6m for the hospital which saved his life as a baby
22. Daniel Sukula – Community leader from Bolton who, after being saved from deportation back to DR Congo, founded a centre for disadvantaged youths.
23. Jay Flynn - The virtual quizmaster helped raise money for multiple charities and entered the Guinness Book of Records during lockdown
