A real Jem for charity
Teenager is honoured
The first ever winner of our West Lothian Young Hero award winner picked up her well- deserved certificate and £100 gift card.
Jemma Mackay (16) was chosen for her exemplary work raising over £1000 for various charities over the last three years by selling her handmade forget-me-not crotchet pin badges.
Jemma learned to do basic crochet at school then advanced in her spare time to do different stitches and went onto creating the forget me not badges– a skilled craft which is on the rise and loved by many celebrities including Eva Longoria and Madonna.
Currently, Jemma is raising money for Alzheimer’s Scotland following the passing of her Papa who had Alzheimer’s.
And she has already raised £410, exceeding her original £365 target.
Mark Martin, community fundraiser from Alzheimer’s Scotland, said Jemma’s fundraising efforts are greatly appreciated and said the money raised will be put to good use.
He added: “Jemma is a wonderfully creative and passionate young girl, who we can’t thank enough for her incredible fundraising efforts to help us in our goal to make sure no one with dementia faces it alone.
“The money she raises will go directly towards helping local people in her area living with the diagnosis of dementia and their family and carers.”
Jemma, who sells her pin badges to friends, family and at school, said she is delighted to have won the award.
She said: “I am thrilled to receive this award.
“Thanks very much to everyone at The Centre, Livingston, and the West Lothian Courier for picking me.
“Crocheting is a hobby I love, even more so when I know it can help towards a good cause like raising awareness and money for a great charity like Alzheimer’s Scotland.
“I will cherish my certificate which has taken pride of place in our living room and look forward to treating myself in one of my favourite shops in the mall.”
Ashley Bisland, deputy centre director at The Centre, said: “It was really lovely to meet Jemma and her family when we awarded her with our Young Local Hero Award and £100 gift card to celebrate her achievement.
“She is a very talented young girl with a very generous, kind heart who we are delighted to be able to announce as our first Young Local Hero.”
Courier editor, Marjorie Kerr, added: “Jemma thoroughly deserves to be named our first young local hero after all her hard work raising money for charity.
“We’re looking forward to rewarding more young people who are making a difference to the lives of others.”
If you know a youngster who has gone the extra mile to help others in the community, such as volunteering in a community group, fundraising or caring for their siblings or perhaps even someone who has excelled at school or a sports club and deserves recognition, please send an email with the details to debbie.hall@trinitymirror.com.