HAS a child you know proved courageous by helping others or fighting illness?

The Community Stars Awards will be held at the Theatre Royal in Brighton on November 1 – and we’re looking for a deserving winner of the Carole Barnes Little Superstars Award.

The award has continually highlighted some truly exceptional youngsters in Sussex over the years and we want to find those who once again fit the bill and deserve to be praised.

They could include children like brave Ashanti Elliot Smith, 11, who suffers from Hutchinson Gildford Progeria – a rare ageing disease that means she is not expected to live past the age of 15.

The genetic condition means she is tiny for her age, has very little hair, suffers heart and arthritis problems and is trapped in the body of someone approaching 50.

But Ashanti, from Burgess Hill, has always been captured by The Argus cameras with a smile on her face.

Last month Ashanti and her mother Phoebe Smith flew out to Florida to swim with dolphins - despite her father stealing her £3,500 charity fund.

Father Albi Elliot was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court after stealing the £3,500 charity fund which had been raised by the Sussex British Motorcycle Owners Club (SBMOC).

The 44-year-old, of Vines Cross, Heathfield, was sentenced after being found guilty of fraud by a jury.

The charity got involved with the family in 2009 and agreed to raise the money so Ashanti could fulfil her dream.

Elliot accepted the £3,500 cheque in December 2010 but it was revealed none of the money had got back to the family. If you think Ashanti, pictured with her idols JLS last year, or another child like her deserves to win the Carole Barnes Little Superstars Award, get in contact using the details below.

Your vote could see them picking up an award at the lavish Community Stars ceremony, which will be hosted by TV presenter Nick Owen at Brighton’s Theatre Royal in November.