A DUNFERMLINE schoolgirl who raised over £20,000 for a cancer charity and a teenager who provided vital support to a motorcyclist left bleeding at the side of the road have been honoured for their bravery.

Grace Sinclair, 12, and Artemis Nikolau, 13, who are members of the 1st Dunfermline Guides, received a prestigious Scottish Chief Commissioner's Thistle Award.

The accolade is only given to someone who has demonstrated outstanding bravery, outstanding leadership, acted as an exceptional role model, overcome personal challenges or shown responsibility during a specific incident.

Masterton Primary pupil Grace was inspired to raised a massive amount – over £20,000 – for the It's Good 2 Give after she received vital help from them while her little brother Harry was diagnosed with leukaemia.

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Fellow member of the St Leonards-based guide group, Artemis was honoured for her bravery when she came across an injured man who had been knocked off his motorbike on Clunie Road.

Guide leader Sharon Barr was delighted to see the actions of both girls recognised.

"We are bursting with pride," she said. "Grace and her brother Harry have been through the mill.

"They did think at one point he wouldn't pull through. His leukaemia was quite severe. They were so well supported by the charity while in hospital.

"Grace would tell you they (the charity) kept her going. They gave opportunities to play with her directly, opportunities to talk and be herself and it was a welcome distraction which allowed them to be children through the treatment.

"Grace has been part of the guiding family since Rainbows. She has grown up with that ethos that you just give back – that is how their parents have brought them up.

"She decided she wanted to give back some of the kindness and got stuck in to all the fundraising."

Equally as proud of Artemis, Sharon said she stayed calm in what was a terrifying situation for such a young girl.

"She had been walking home and on the walk home a guy was off his bike. It didn't look good as there was a lot of blood that was visible.

"She said she panicked inwardly but knew she couldn't leave him. I think a nurse who lived locally had arrived afterwards and realised something wasn't right but she was trying to stop the blood.

"I don't think she realised the importance of what she had done."

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Grace's mum, Laura, was delighted for her daughter who was rewarded at a special ceremony at Fordell Firs earlier this month.

"It was remarkable," she said. "The Guides have been so supportive and a real constant throughout Rainbows, Brownies and in Guides.

"They have been so supportive and are her biggest champions.

"They had put her forward for this totally amazing award and we are so grateful to them. They have made her feel so special.

"It comes from the guiding thing, They are encouraged to think about others and she, firsthand, saw what her brother was going through and she knows how she felt going through it and she is just trying to do everything she can to give back."

Sofia Nikolau, Artemis' mum, is still amazed with her daughter's actions.

"I cannot describe how proud I am," she said. "She was only 12 years when she did it.

"She overcame her fear. When she came back home, she was trying tell me about it but she was shaking. It was a very brave thing to do.

"To stay there by the side of the man with him bleeding, she could see the bone.

"She stayed talking to him until a woman who was a nurse came. She called the ambulance and asked the man questions, she did all the communications and stayed calm."