A nine-year-boy from Yarmouth is celebrating with his family after becoming one of the first 60 Canadians to receive the Diamond Jubilee medal.

Bryden Hutt received the award earlier this week for his work with the Children's Wish Foundation.

The Diamond Jubilee medals were created as part of commemorations marking the 60 years since Queen Elizabeth became the sovereign on the death of her father, King George VI.

Bryden said standing in Rideau Hall with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston was one of the proudest moments of his life.

"I felt so happy that I thought my heart was going to explode," he told CBC News on Thursday.

Bryden has Omenn syndrome, a disorder that left him with virtually no immune system as a baby. He received a bone marrow transplant from a German donor several years ago.

When he was five years old, the Children's Wish Foundation granted Bryden a wish — to go to Disney World with his donor.

Bryden has been volunteering his time for the organization ever since.

"I had a sponsor sheet and then I went from house to house and I asked for people to sponsor me for the Children's Wish Foundation," he said.

"I raised lots of money."

Cheryl Matthews, the director of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, said Bryden has raised approximately $30,000 canvassing from Yarmouth to Chester.

"He wants to give back so other kids can get their wish," she said.

"Through his efforts, he's fulfilled three wishes."

Bryden's parents said they found out about the Diamond Jubilee medal — given to Canadians for their work in community service — about three weeks ago.

"He's had a long, rough road, but you wouldn't know it. He's not an unhappy child, he's not a frustrated child," said Wendy Hutt, Bryden's mother.

"Where he's going to continue to have struggles in his life, I want him to have that independence and I want him to be able to realize what he's doing and how it affects other children and what it means to them, as well."