A STRETCH limousine, a day out in London and the chance to meet BBC TV personality Katy Hill were just some of the treats in store for a prize-winning seven-year-old from Tavistock recently.
Emma Ruskin was chosen from thousands of entrants to win the Parker Pen award for handwriting last year — but she was unable to go to London for her prize as she had to go into hospital for an operation.
So Emma, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was invited to the big city this year to receive her award in the special needs section of the competition from the BBC TV Blue Peter presenter.
Proud dad Philip Ruskin said: 'They treated her like a queen, they really did, it was marvellous.
'Emma's naturally right-handed but she has to use her left hand, and she's only got about 25 per cent mobility in it — this was a really big step for her because originally they said she would never be able to write.'
A chauffeur-driven limousine whisked Emma, Philip and Emma's school helper Margaret Ellicott, from St Rumon's Infants School, from Gillette headquarters to the presentation at the National History Museum.
'Margaret's been marvellous, she's motivated Emma so much,' said Philip. 'Any progress is very slow, to get her to hold a pencil in the beginning was a big thing. She's come on so well at St Rumon's.
'She's such an adorable girl and she's had everything thrown at her this year with operations etc — this was just such an achievement for her.'
l Right: Blue Peter's Katy Hill and Parker director Jo Wenham present Emma with her special prize.