IF it’s true that the youth of today has a bad name, there is at least one Douglas 15-year-old whose hard work is altering stereotypical perceptions of teenagers.
The nominations and references have flooded in for St Ninian’s High School student Stephanie Green, in the young person of the year category of the Flybe Pride in Mann awards.
For many years Stephanie has been heavily involved in charity work and fundraising.
Mum Karen Hanley said: ‘She started off aged 11, helping at Hospice on Allen Street. She’ll give up her time readily. Whether she is making candy floss for breast cancer charities on Strand Street or at Tynwald Day, or organising her own events.’
A second nomination came in from Onchan’s Angie Aire: ‘Stephanie’s constant work with charities shows full commitment at all times. She is keen, cheerful and a delight to be around!’
Stephanie helped her mother and musician Matt Creer in setting up the Secret Attic venue in Desmense Road, Douglas, which hosted a Bollywood night last year, organised by Stephanie and her friend Helena Holstock, to raise money for treatment for brain-damaged six-year-old Aziz Sharpe.
Aziz’s mother Madina Sharpe said: ‘Steph and Helena kindly organised a very entertaining night, as well as a sponsored walk to raise funds for the various programmes my son is on. We are truly thankful and honoured that Steph chose to raise funds for Aziz, it was a great achievement undertaken by a teenager.’
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.
Stephanie and Helena enlisted the help of Douglas company Bollywood on the Isle to put the night on.
Bollywood on the Isle owner Alpana Delaney remembers: ‘I was surprised that at a very young age she knew exactly what she wanted to do and who she wanted to help. Her focus and dedication in making the event successful was very impressive. She had planned every single detail so when she contacted me she answered all my queries thoroughly and confidently.’
Alpana added: ‘Having the right focus and dedication at such a young age is very rare to see nowadays and I am pleased that she has been put forward for the Pride in Mann awards, and I am sure she will continue to be a great role model for her peers.’
Regular Children’s Centre fundraiser Jill Harrison also added her praise after her help with a fundraising day for the charity earlier this year.
‘Stephanie willingly gave up her weekend to help us raise over £1000 for the Children’s Centre in February without expecting a penny in return, even donating the full takings from her candy floss sales during the day to the charity. She is a credit to the community and we are extremely grateful for her, and inspired by her commitment!’
With all this behind her as a teenager, what does Karen envisage her daughter taking on when she gets older?
‘She wants to run her own business, and be able to help people, to be connected and to socialise,’ she said. ‘She’s a people person, and a very unselfish human being.
‘She’s amazing. If everyone had a bit of Stephanie in their lives, the world would be a better place.’
Nominations for this year’s Pride in Mann awards have now closed.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/pride-in-mann|Click here to see the other nominees}.
• We’ll be explaining how you can vote in Pride in Mann soon.