A 12-year-old, from Essex, has been selected as a finalist in the Rising Star category at this year’s JustGiving Awards after raising
over £60,000 for charity through sponsored walks and climbs – defying doctors’ expectations.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two, Lily Blackburn’s parents were told she would never walk on her own.
After years of physio and with the support of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Lily is now climbing mountains to help seriously ill children.
Lily is currently preparing for her biggest challenge yet, conquering Mount Snowdon in aid of Haven House Children’s Hospice.
“When I was seven, I walked 15km to raise money for my local children’s hospice, Haven House,” said Lily. “It was tough, but I learned
how powerful determination can be. Now, I want to push myself even further to help more children who need support – just like I once did.
“It means so much to be nominated for a JustGiving Award. I feel really proud and excited that the things I enjoy doing and all the effort
I have put into helping other children has made such a difference. It makes me want to keep going and do everything I can.”
Lily is one of 20 people to be named as a JustGiving Awards finalist this year, after over 18,000
nominations were made by the general public. To be nominated, entrants had to have used JustGiving to raise money for a charity
or personal cause over the last 12 months.
The finalists were shortlisted by an internal judging panel from JustGiving, with four finalists for each of the five new categories chosen.
Alongside the Kids: Rising Star, the other categories are Endurance: Mind over Miles, Influencer: Social for Good, Team: Stronger Together and Community: Outstanding Commitment.
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: “In 25 years, over £7 billion has been raised for good causes
by millions of incredible fundraisers on JustGiving. The Awards is our way of shining a light on those extraordinary individuals whose courage, compassion and commitment inspire us all.
“With thousands of remarkable nominees this year, narrowing them down to just 20 finalists was no easy task. Among them, Lily’s story
really touched us. At just 12 years old, she’s overcome so much, proving that anything, at any age, is possible if you put your mind to it. Not only has Lily raised tens of thousands for children’s charities, she’s also shown how far you can get with determination
and self-belief. Lily is nothing short of inspirational.”
This year the awards coincide with JustGiving’s 25th anniversary. Instead of being recognised with a traditional award ceremony, JustGiving
is now offering winners an immersive experience that they’ll remember forever.
The winners will be chosen by the public, with voting opening on Monday 11 August. Members of the public
will have three weeks to make their decision, with voting closing on Sunday 31 August.
To vote for the winners of this year’s JustGiving Awards visit:
https://page.justgiving.com/justgiving-awards-vote
