Young Role Model
THIS 16-year-old can show most adults a thing or two about life.
While suffering from alopecia she is celebrating bald is beautiful and sending out the message to young girls that imperfections are to be embraced.
Elisha hid in her bedroom at first before plucking up the courage to show off her baldness on Facebook. She’s gone from strength to strength and even modelled a range of wigs in a fashion show before throwing them into the air to reveal what was really underneath.
She has regained her self-esteem, has been chosen as the new face for North East wig company Pdollpalace and now has her own line of wacky wigs.
In a world of social media when youngsters feel they have to ‘perfect,’ Elisha is showing them that they don’t. This teenager is a true inspiration and we are delighted to give her our prestigious Young Role Model award.
Elisha said: “I am overwhelmed of how people have embraced my journey.
“I have gained so much confidence even though alopecia robbed me of it at first.
“Winning this award means so much to me, bald is beautiful and I want everyone to know it.”
ELISHA APPLEBY
BROTHERS Dominic and Thomas Blanchard shared a unique bond from day one – until one of them was cruelly taken. Born extremely premature, Dominic had severe cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and developed a kidney condition when he was five years old.
As well as being his brother’s best friend, Thomas helped care for Dominic as soon as he was old enough. But he was left without his constant companion last year when Dominic developed a blood clot and died at the age of 16.
Since Dominic’s death, Thomas has kept his parents and three younger siblings going with his strength. He even volunteered to carry the coffin so he could carry his brother one last time. Dominic was the eldest but Thomas was the big brother. He automatically took on his caring role and did so much more many other kids his age wouldn’t.
While helping with Dominic he even looked after his younger siblings in times of emergency. Thomas, 15, who attends St Bede’s School in Lanchester, is now a police cadet at Durham and hopes to be a police officer one day. He is a star Young Role Model and he is perfect for our award.
THOMAS BLANCHARD