Sisters receive a British Citizen Youth Award:
Three sisters from Bridgend are at the Palace of Westminster last Thursday to receive the British Citizen Youth Award.
The award, now in its eighth year, will be honouring 25 young people from across the UK who have made a difference in their communities and in society. Each inspirational young person will be presented with the BCyA Medal of Honour. Bridgend sisters Hollie, Poppie and Lillie Evans, aged 14, 11 and 7, will each receive a medal.
Hollie was born with Down’s Syndrome and diagnosed with AML, a rare form of leukaemia, when she was just 19 months old. After undergoing six months of chemotherapy, Hollie won her battle with the cancer. She then suffered a corneal ulcer at the age of five. Despite being in and out of hospital, her sisters Poppie and Lillie are devoted to her, and Hollie has always raised positive awareness of Down’s Syndrome.
Poppie and Lillie are always around to help Hollie, whether it is reading, spelling or basic care needs. Poppie learnt Makaton – a communication tool that uses signs and symbols to help people communicate – to sign music videos for her YouTube channel, encouraging her friends at school to learn Makaton too. The three sisters held a session after school to teach children and their parents the Makaton alphabet.
Since Hollie was given the all-clear from cancer in 2012, she has donated 54 inches of her hair and raised almost £6,000 for multiple charities. Every Easter for the past five years, the sisters collect Easter eggs and gifts and donate them to children at the Noah’s Ark Cardiff Hospital and Ronald McDonald Hospices. On 21st March, World Down’s Syndrome Day, they make hundreds of homemade biscuits to give to strangers.
Each medal of honour bears the words ‘For the Good of the Country’ and is presented to a small number of exceptional young individuals annually. The British Citizen Youth Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday young people for exceptional endeavor.
Usually only open to individuals, this year The BCyA, alongside partner’s Specsavers, have launched The Dame Mary Perkins British Citizen Youth Award, for groups of young people who are collectively and positively impacting communities.
Mike Faulkner, founder of the BCyA, said: “Dame Mary is the valued patron of the BCyA and committed to promoting the achievements of young people.”
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 medal presentations. Register online here.
🌟 This article first appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 06.10.22. Read it in print first!
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