Friendship is precious. It's making someone laugh when the going gets tough. It's organising a bake sale to raise money for a seriously injured friend and selling orange food only in a cheeky reference to their hair.
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The ACT Children and Young People Commissioner has recognised Charlie Mellick, Joseph Bishop, Marley Thomas, Benjamin Mitchell and Lola Arranz for epitomising true friendship in their support of Elijah Arranz - the orange-haired 16-year-old who loves a joke with his mates.
Elijah, a St Francis Xavier College year 10, was seriously injured in a skydiving accident in November 2015. He spent almost 12 months in Sydney undergoing intensive rehabilitation, learning to speak, use his hands and eat, after receiving a severe traumatic brain injury.
Now, he's back at school in Canberra and working on walking - with his friends by his side every step of the way.
Marley, who has known Elijah since the pair were seven months old, remembers finding out about her friend's accident.
"It was very hard because we didn't know if he was going to survive or not when we first found out," she said.
"I saw him in the holidays, late January [2016]. He was still in a coma. We did a massive fundraiser at school, a bake sale, and in the end we raised nearly one grand."
The orange-themed bake sale smashed every fundraising record held at St Francis Xavier. Students also made photo boards for Elijah's hospital room so he could see his friends as soon as he woke up. They held 24-hour basketball meets and arranged 400 pairs of shoes into the words "Pray for Eli".
On his first day back at school, Elijah was swarmed with well-wishers, many of whom he'd never met. He said hi to everyone anyway - then turned to Marley, who was pushing his wheelchair, to confess he wasn't sure who they were.
Elijah's accident changed the lives of everyone around him. Charlie, who pushed Elijah through a relay at the school's athletics carnival so quickly onlookers weren't sure they'd be able to stop, commended his friend's attitude.
"I can't imagine what I would be like in that situation so it's good to see he's still pushing through," he said.
Marley said it had strengthened her empathy.
"Obviously being in Elijah's position we always think about sympathising for everyone," she said.
"We take everything a bit more seriously."
Elijah, for his part, paid tribute to his friends for "supporting me with the laughs". He is grateful for their company.
When asked what makes his friends special, he answered: "Probably just staying with me and not ditching me."
In giving her award last week, Children and Young People Commissioner Jodie Griffiths-Cook said the group of friends - affectionately known as Team Elijah - deserved recognition for what they brought to each other's lives and their community.
"In making my decision this year, it was impossible to go past a particular group of young people who together epitomise the values of tenacity, courage and true friendship even in the face of personal challenges," she said.
"These six young people set an example for us all - the values of faith, bravery, compassion, and selflessness shine through their actions and show us the true meaning of friendship."
