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Role models who counter the bad image of youths
Winners announced in the Duke of Bedford's Young Person of the Year Awards.
Tales of courage, determination and achievement were told at the final of the Duke of Bedford Young Person of the Year (YOPEY) Awards.
Young role models Sharn Davies, of Poulter Close, Bedford, and Ethan Brown, 11, of Larkway, Bedford, were both up for the top prize of 2,000.
The charitable pair were among 14 youngsters from across Bedfordshire, aged between 11 and 25 years, vying for the acolade at Mid Beds District Council's headquarters in Chicksands last Thursday.
Miss Davies, 25, who volunteers with many different care groups and charities in Bedford, said: "I think what YOPEY does is great.
"Most people think that young people are all bad, or take drugs, but YOPEY shows what we really do."
Ethan, who helps his friend Harry Brown, who has Asperger Syndrome, attend mainstream Beauchamp Middle School, said he was nervous but proud to be there.
Both were given 50 prizes in recognition of their hard work.
The top prize was won by 18-year-old Sabath Shazia, of Malvern Road, Luton, who managed to battle against debilitating Crohn's disease while studying for her A-levels and organising a fundraiser for the victims of last year's Bangladesh Cyclone.
The junior prize, for under 16s, was won by Gavin O'Brien, of High Town Road, Luton, who was presented with 500 for his work mentoring fellow pupils at Stopsley High School in Luton.
A runner-up prize of 250 went to Aimee Elliot, 12, of Harrow Road, Leighton Buzzard, and Chloe Hale, 12, of Cantilupe Close, Eaton Bray, who set-up and run a support group for new pupils at Linslade Middle School in Leighton Buzzard.
Tony Gearing, organiser of the awards, said: "If you believed the headlines, and sadly many people do, you could think every young person is a binge-drinking, drug-taking, violent hoodie.
"These awards put these fantastic young people back in the media spotlight by telling their amazing stories."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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