A 12-year-old boy, whose campaign against online trolls was backed by Chalfont St Peter charity The Epilepsy Society, has been named as the first winner of the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award for 2024.
On January 1, Zach Eagling became 2024’s first recipient of the UK’s Points of Light Award, an initiative which recognises outstanding volunteers, charity leaders and community champions for the positive changes they have made.
Zach, from Yorkshire, was eight years old when he became a victim of a malicious attack by online trolls, who targeted people with epilepsy with hundreds of flashing images designed to trigger seizures in anyone who is photosensitive.
For the last three-and-a-half years, Zach has spearheaded a campaign by the Epilepsy Society to bring the trolls within the reach of the law. In October 2023, Zach’s Law became enshrined in law as part of the Online Safety Act. This means that anyone who maliciously targets someone with epilepsy online could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
The law, the first ever to have been written specifically to protect people with epilepsy, was supported by Dean Russell, MP for Watford, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Zach said: “I want to thank the Prime Minister for recognising my hard work and I’m pleased and proud that I’ve managed to change the law.”
Nicola Swanborough, head of external affairs at the Epilepsy Society said: “It is wonderful to see Zach recognised through the Prime Minister’s Points of Light awards. Zach is an outstanding young man and an inspiration to his generation. His commitment to our Zach’s Law campaign has been unwavering.
“At just 12 years old, he has made the world a safer place for people with epilepsy. We are immensely proud of him and can think of no finer recipient to mark the New Year.”
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