Eight deserving children became Osca winners at the first Outstanding Sussex Children's Awards ceremony.

The event at the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel was organised by the Rockinghorse Appeal, which raises money for the Royal Alexandra children's hospital in Brighton.

The winners were celebrated on Friday night for their courage and strength in triumphing over physical suffering.

Amy Penkert loves to dance, whether performing ballet or tap dance displays on stage or just twirling around the house.

To watch her move to the music, it would be difficult to guess she is profoundly deaf and has been since birth.

It was only when she received a cochlear implant four years ago that she began to hear for the first time.

Her determination and love of dance has won her an Osca for musical achievement.

Amy, of Eastbank, Southwick, has achieved her Grade 1 qualification in dance and has performed on stage.

Her mother Jan said: "Her hearing isn't mature enough for her to say, 'This is S Club Seven' or 'This is Gareth Gates'.

"She can't distinguish the differences in music but when she's dancing she can listen to the beat. We're so proud for her to have won this award."

Studying for ten CGSEs is tough enough, without having to do so from a hospital bed.

That has been the challenge facing Paul Salvage, 16, who suffers from brittle bone disease osteogenesis imperfecta.

He was eight when his left leg broke the first time. Since then, he has fractured bones at least twice a year but Paul, who has won an Osca for educational achievements, is confident about the exams he has just taken at Patcham High School.

His mum Sally, of Upper Lewes Road, Brighton, said: "Even when he's been in hospital he's kept on studying."

Paul said: "When I got back to school I had to work hard to keep up with everyone but I was really determined."

He hopes to start at Varndean College in September, to study A-levels in biology, chemistry, geography and computing. He has already achieved his aim of getting out of his wheelchair and on to crutches.

David Sage's love of sport has blossomed despite the fact he is forced to sit out most activities.

David, 16, is thought to be one of only six people in the UK suffering from polysaccharide storage myopathy, a progressive muscle disorder.

It means he is unable to run and has to spend time in a wheelchair. But David, of New Church Road, Hove, has become a master of wheelchair basketball.

When his condition forced him to stop playing, he simply became coach of his team at Treloar School in Alton, Hampshire. He enjoys helping other disabled youngsters, often giving up his weekends to organise sports events. That work helped him win an Osca for sporting achievement.

His father Andrew said: "He was always more interested in sports where everyone's equal, like wheelchair basketball. Even if you're able-bodied, everyone's in a wheelchair."

On diagnosis, his parents Andrew and Helen were warned he would soon be completely wheelchair-bound but he can still manage most of the time without a chair.

A nose bleed that kept on flowing was the first sign something was seriously wrong with Daniel Incorvaja.

Until the age of seven, he was perfectly healthy but in February last year he suffered the first symptoms of aplastic anaemia, bone marrow failure.

He became tired very quickly, bled and bruised easily and his immune system broke down.

During the past year he has had regular blood and platelet transfusions and missed many days at Cottersmore St Mary's School in Upper Drive, Hove.

Daniel was unable to attend the ceremony to collect his Osca for bravery. His sister Christina, seven, received it for him.

He is in Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, recovering from a bone marrow transplant last month.

Parents Francis and Debbie, of Tredcroft Road, Hove, hope he will be discharged later this month.

Debbie said: "I'm beginning to feel we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now Daniel wants to be a doctor when he grows up."

Supportive sisters Kirsty and Jessica Pyle have always been there for each other.

Kirsty, 13, was diagnosed with leukaemia in April last year. When she needed a bone marrow transplant, Jessica was the only family member who matched. The operation was carried out last September and prompted Kirsty to nominate her ten-year-old sister for a special carer's Osca.

Kirsty, of Stafford Road, Seaford, said: "I felt sad and didn't really want to put Jessica through this. But at the same time I was happy. Some people have to look all around the world for a match and don't really know their donor but we're really close."

Kirsty has almost recovered and is back at school. Their mother Sarah said: "Jessica's been our rock - not just in being Kirsty's donor but being strong to help the whole family come through this."

"Lovely jubbly" would surely have been Del Boy's reaction had he seen Luke Rumsey receive his Osca community award.

Though he is registered blind, Luke, 13, loves listening to his full collection of Only Fools And Horses videos.

Luke, of Castle Close, Worthing, has suffered from a life-limiting, neuro-degenerative condition since birth.

He has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is fed by a tube to his stomach.

He had to spend three months lying in full body plaster in a hospital bed.

His mother Julie said: "He never once moaned or asked why. He's so positive, he'll come round from major surgery and still be smiling."

He goes to Chailey Heritage School for children with disabilities in Haywards Heath Road, Lewes.

Joshua Brooks wants to be the next Fatboy Slim. Music gives him a release from the pain he suffers as a result of his rare McCune Albright syndrome.

He has to walk with the help of a frame and has extremely brittle bones. His resilience helped him win the triumph over adversity Osca.

He first broke his leg when he stumbled in a school playground at the age of four. Doctors installed rods in his legs only for him to break the other leg shortly afterwards.

Joshua, 12, has undergone 12 operations. Later this month he will have to have the metal rods in his right leg adjusted.

He is determined to be a DJ and his parents Gary and Jennifer are right behind him.

Gary, of Hunters Way, Uckfield, said: "He lives for his music. He won't be able to do a physical job, so being a DJ is perfect for him. He's got a real talent for it."

Danielle Knights is learning to walk again but the sporty teenager's heart is set on practising backflips.

In February, the 14-year-old fell three storeys from a window at her family home in Clarendon Villas, Hove, breaking her neck and her pelvis.

She spent several weeks in intensive care and has endured a number of painful operations to insert a metal plate at the top of her spine.

Danielle was very active before her accident and, as she prepares to leave hospital and go to Chailey Heritage School to complete her recovery, she is looking forward to doing all the sports she misses so much.

She said: "Because I was on so much medicine, I didn't remember much about it.

"I am getting better slowly and can walk again. I love doing gymnastics, trampolining, fencing and cross-country running and I can't wait to start doing it all again.

"I am hoping to go swimming at Chailey Heritage twice a week and I am going horseriding there as well."

Danielle said she was very embarrassed when Chris Eubank presented her with her award for outstanding bravery but was looking forward to a night out with the Hove-based boxer, who promised to take her to the cinema.