AN emotional Esther Ghey collected an inspiration award in honour of her daughter at a national ceremony.

Brianna Ghey was named as the recipient of a posthumous inspiration award last night, Wednesday, at the Attitude Awards.

The transgender Birchwood schoolgirl was chosen as the worthy winner of the honour by Attitude Magazine, the UK and Europe's best-selling LGBTQ magazine, which organised the awards.

The 16-year-old was murdered in Culcheth Linear Park in February 2023 by two 15-year-olds, who have since been jailed for life for the murder.

The court ruled that one of her killers was motivated by hostility towards Brianna due to her being transgender.

Brianna’s mother, Esther, collected the award in person and was introduced as ‘a woman who continues to carry Brianna’s light forward with grace and resilience’.

Brianna Ghey and her mother Esther

Brianna Ghey and her mother Esther

Speaking after being presented with the award, a tearful Esther said: “Thank you so much.

“Firstly, I would really like to thank the community for all of the support that you have given our family over the past year-and-a-half.

“There are people here tonight who I have met over this time and become really close friends with, and I really appreciate all of you.

“Brianna was so proud to be trans, and she would not let anybody take that away from her,” she stated, which received rapturous applause from the audience.

“Brianna’s strength to be who she wanted to be really shone through in her life,” Esther continued.

“Brianna passed her strength and determination on to others, inspiring them to have the confidence to be themselves.

“I am the proudest mum in the world to be collecting this award for her today,” she declared, which was again met with applause.

Esther added: “I have personally taken Brianna’s strength to run two campaigns, through my non-profit called Peace in Mind UK, that I have set up in Brianna’s legacy, so that her life will live on.

“My aim is to plant seeds of resilience, empathy and unity, making society a more accepting and safer place for all.

“Brianna would really be made up with this award, and thank you so much for having me here tonight.”

For more information about Peace in Mind UK, visit peaceandminduk.org