Young Citizen: Isabella crowned 2014 winner at annual Mayor’s awards
Winner of the Recorder/Redbridge Rotary Young Citizen Award, Isabella Field - Credit: James Burns
A nine-year-old who took to fundraising following the death of her big sister was named our Young Citizen 2014 winner at the Mayor’s Community Awards.
Isabella Field, or Bella to her friends, was given a huge hug and a kiss from her parents as she collected her gong, sponsored by the Exchange Ilford shopping centre, from the mayor on Monday.
She has raised almost £80,000 alongside her mum and dad for Haven House Children’s Hospice since her sister, Molly, died of a brain tumour when she was just eight years old.
“It feels amazing to win,” said Bella, who lives in Darnley Road, Woodford Green.
“I’ll never stop fundraising – the next thing I am doing is a ‘wear a hat’ day at school.”
Bella’s whole family get on board with the fundraising and her dad, Steve, abseiling down 262ft down the Orbit in the Olympic Park the day before the awards.
Her mum, Mel, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of her and it was so impressive to see her hold her own talking to all the adults who were queueing to speak to her after she won.
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“She is just a little superstar and couldn’t wait to tell people she won when she got home.”
Bella’s school is incredibly supportive of her fundraising activities as Molly also attended Churchfields Junior School in South Woodford.
She has hosted a number of events there including selling loom bands and her upcoming hat day.
Bella and her parents will now add Brain Tumor Research to those they will fundraise for.
Tomomi Malcolm, 12, of Dahlia Gardens in Ilford, was given the nod as runner up of the Young Citizen Award for her work as a young carer to her mum who has sickle cell anaemia.
