For Immediate Release
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Oliver Wilcox from Somerby, Leicestershire, UK has won the student category of the MY HERO Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest 2023.
The educational charity based in California USA, The MY HERO Project, hosts the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest annually in honour of ‘heartsong’ poet and peace activist Mattie Stepanek. Before Mattie passed away, just before his 14th birthday, he had become a New York Times Bestselling author and a celebrated guest on Oprah, Good Morning America, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Telethon. His mother, Jeni Stepanek, continues his legacy with the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation and is the judge for the MY HERO poetry contest.
The Poetry Contest seeks ‘heartsongs’ about heroes working for peace, human rights and the environment. “A heartsong,” Mattie explained, “doesn’t have to be a song. It can be your message, your feeling—some people might even call it a conscience. Even though that’s not really what it is. It’s what you feel you need to do.”
The 2023 MY HERO contest took place this summer in Laguna Beach, Los Angeles via the online platform. There were many participants from around the globe and Oliver Wilcox from Sombery, Leicestershire, UK was honored with first place in the student category, winning a MY HERO Certificate and a £20 Book Voucher. You can read the poem below and here: /my-trans-friends
my friend once told me:
"it was as I sat in my darkened room that I was joined by the other:
He sat besides me on my confused grey bed, encasing me in his sturdy arms,
and as I stared upon his pain filled eyes I realised they were mine,
my pain,my shade of sinful green, my conflicted thoughts,
my eyes looked back at me,
and seeing myself in those hurt eyes, I had to look away,
not bearing to see my own pitiful form in his eyes that matched mine perfectly,
and as the thoughts returned, a pain in the chest, a poison in my veins,
like "the sinful poison" that I needed in my body,
the evil that "went against biology",
like the pain of hiding my chest, a sharp sting that I could take no longer,
and as I asked him who he was, he smiled at me sadly and pulled me close,
"I am nothing, yet your everything, I am who you will become",
he whispered as tears slid down our faces,
his arms pulled mine around him, my arms circled around myself,
and for the first time, I felt right, I felt complete.
In the dark of my room found myself."
And for that, I told him he was so strong, I am so thankful for having such a brave hero.
Poetry Contest WinnerMY HERO
The MY HERO Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Award Contest is unique in that it is open to poets, artists, filmmakers, and spoken word artists. To find out more go to: www.myhero.com/poetry-contest.
Ends
For more information on MY HERO visit the website: myhero.com
For more information about the Poetry Contest go to: www.myhero.com/poetry-contest
For more information about the Essay Contest go to: https:myhero.com/essay-
Page created on 10/4/2023 1:47:08 PM
Last edited 3/20/2026 9:37:36 AM
