Glasgow boy, 9, helping people with limb loss and limb difference

Now, golf, cycling and gymnastics are all firmly on his agenda, alongside his already hectic schedule of fundraising, public speaking and being a young ambassador for LimbBo, the national charity supporting people with a limb difference.

This is not just any prosthetic, however, as Callum’s mum Bianca explains.

Callum Sweeney with new elbow prosthetic the CLM (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

“Callum has spent the last few years talking to Koalaa to create this product,” she says. “This above-elbow one is less bulky and much more comfortable.

“The company came along to one of our summer events. This is what we want, businesses to talk to people who have a limb difference to create products that are right for them. It’s been brilliant.”

Callum Sweeney with new elbow prosthetic the CLM (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

She smiles. “They even called it after Callum – the CLM is really good and helps him with his bike, golf and gymnastics.”

Callum, who was born missing his right arm from above the elbow, was crowned Little Champion alongside cancer survivor Ismaeel Ishaque and youth club volunteer Ella Hayes at the Glasgow Community Champion Awards last year.

Callum accepting his Little Champion award at last year's Glasgow Community Champion Awards (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

This year’s awards, organised by the Glasgow Times and supported by Glasgow City Council, Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust and Glasgow Fort, are now open for entries.

There are 10 awards up for grabs this year: Community Champion, Champion Team, Sporting Champion, Green Champion, Health and Wellbeing Champion, Arts Champion, Young Champion (for secondary school pupils), Little Champion (for primary school pupils), Senior Champion for anyone aged 60 or over; and the GT150 Anniversary Prize, which recognises someone who has devoted a lifetime of service to the city.

Look out soon for exciting news regarding our Champion School of the Year prize – we are doing things a little bit differently for 2026. More details will be available in the coming weeks.

For more details on the categories and to complete the entry form, visit our website and click on the link.

For Callum, being part of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards was “crazy and fun," he says.

Callum Sweeney with mum Bianca and sister Sophie (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

“I felt really good, it gave me a lot of confidence,” he adds.

“It can be difficult and scary when you have a limb difference. I’m trying to help other people. Winning the award was exciting.”

Callum, who lives in Dumbreck with his mum and dad, Bianca and John, and little sister Sophie, four, adds: “People should enter the awards - do it and you might feel great.”

Getting the chance to tell his story at the awards night in Glasgow City Chambers last December helped Callum and Bianca spread the word about LimbBo, which now has around 60 families in Scotland on board.

“I feel a bit more hopeful that things are changing,” says Bianca. 

Bianca-Louise (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times)

“When Callum was born, there really was nothing, no-one to speak to. Callum having the chance to speak so publicly at the awards has really helped us get the message about LimbBo out there.”

The charity has also recently launched a petition for the government to consider baseline x-rays for every person born with a limb difference. It already has more than 3000 signatures.

“Our founder’s son was involved in a serious accident on the way to school only for his parents to be asked ‘is this normal?’ by the doctors after an x-ray,” says Bianca.

“And just before Christmas, Callum broke his collarbone, and x-rays revealed his little arm actually has a hook in the bone at the end, which we didn’t know about. Doctors have told us it means he will probably need surgery as he gets older.

“I have been asking for years for an x-ray because it is crazy you don’t get one at birth.”

Callum is also coming to the end of a summer of fundraising, in which he and Bianca have raised hundreds of pounds for LimbBo by taking part in assorted events, including the Tough Mudder and the Great Scottish Junior Run.

Callum recently visited the Houses of Parliament in London, where he and his fellow LimbBo youth ambassadors spoke as part of MP Marie Tidball’s reception celebrating disability.

“Marie is the first MP with a congenital limb difference,” says Bianca. “We got to showcase our #IWantToBe campaign which we launched in April as part of limb loss and limb difference awareness month.”

She adds: “Callum stood in a room of almost 100 strangers and delivered a very powerful speech about what LimbBo does, how it makes him feel, and his experience of limb difference, and of having to move schools due to bullying.

“I cannot put into words how proud I am of him, continuing to thrive, shine so positively and inspire those younger than him.”