Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe have been hailed for their “strength, compassion, and determination to honour the memories of Bebe, Elsie, and Alice” after they were presented with the Helen Rollason Award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.
The fathers of two of the young girls killed in Southport last summer were presented with their award by former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler and comedian John Bishop.
Since the tragedy last year, the three families have set out to establish lasting legacies in their daughters’ names through the projects Elsie’s Story, Alice’s WonderDance and Bebe’s Hive.
Alice’s father Sergio and Elsie’s dad David ran the 2025 London Marathon.
Sergio raised funds to build a new playground at Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe were pupils, while David ran for Elsie’s Story.
“I’m very grateful to accept the award tonight but I’m just a dad keeping a promise to his little girl,” David said.
“Elsie wanted me to run the London Marathon and I did. It gave me a massive focus through the hardest time I’ve ever lived through.”
Sergio said: “I want to dedicate this award to our three girls: Alice, Elsie and Bebe. Keep dancing.
“I want to spread Alice’s magic across the world. I am going to keep running and raising money for her foundation.”
The Helen Rollason Award recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
It was introduced to Sports Personality of the Year in 1999 in memory of the BBC Sport journalist and presenter, who died of cancer that year aged 43.
Southport MP Patrick Hurley said:
“I wanted to take a minute to congratulate Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe on receiving the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“From a day of unimaginable personal tragedy, they chose to stand together as two families and channelled their grief into purpose, running the London Marathon in honour of their daughters.
“I, and the whole of Southport, want to reiterate our admiration for Sergio and David. Their strength, compassion, and determination to honour the memories of Bebe, Elsie, and Alice, while inspiring so many others, is profoundly moving.
“The award is richly deserved, and our thoughts remain with them and their families.”
Elsie’s Story said:
“David and Sergio received the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
“We felt so much love in that room. It’s hard to explain it properly, but it meant more than we’ll ever be able to say.
“They were recognised for running the London Marathon during the hardest time of our lives. Every mile, every early morning, every long run was for Elsie, Alice and Bebe.
“Running gave David somewhere to go when life without Elsie felt impossible.
“Sometimes it was just a way to get through the day, when everything else felt too much. It gave him something to focus on and a promise to keep.
“He ran for Elsie, and he wasn’t alone. Our friends, our family and our community carried him all the way.
“They’re just dads. Ordinary people who want their girls to be known for more than what happened to them, but for the love, kindness and the impact they can still have.
“Thank you to the BBC SPOTY team for choosing David and Sergio for this award.
“And thank you to everyone who continues to show such love to Elsie, Alice and Bebe.
“Always for them.”
Alice’s WonderDance said:
“We are beyond grateful for this recognition after running the London Marathon for Alice, Bebe, and Elsie.
“It reflects the strength, courage, and endless love these dads carry every day through unimaginable loss.
“Running has been Sergio’s therapy in his darkest moments, and the support from our community, friends, and family has meant everything. I am so incredibly proud of my husband my safest place, my hero.
“Thank you to BBC Sport and BBC Breakfast, and to everyone who has shown us all kindness. This award feels like a gift from our girls .
“Together we will keep their light shining forever.”
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