Two of this year’s RIBI Young Citizen award winners, Alice Pyne and Bethany Hare, are reaching out to raise awareness of their causes.
16 year old Alice, who has Hodkin’s Lymphoma, has launched her new charity, Alice’s Escapes, in Ulverston. The aim is to fund short breaks for families who have seriously ill children. The idea was inspired by Alice’s own experiences of the Torbay Holiday Helpers Network, based in Devon. Alice’s Escapes aims to work with Cumbrian businesses. Supporters have already undertaken numerous events to support the charity including a climb up Kilimanjaro later this year. Alice was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Babbacombe and St Marychurch.
12 year old Bethany Hare, pictured receiving her RIBI Young Citizen Award and her Paul Harris Fellowship, from Leeds, has just been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship from District 1040. Bethany has raised almost £19,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, near Wetherby. District Governor Willie Clarke said: "We believe that Bethany may be the youngest recipient ever. How many of us at her age could have achieved so much? It is truly humbling and inspirational and we felt her fantastic efforts deserved this special recognition. She truly epitomises the Rotary ethos of ‘Service Above Self’."
Bethany began fundraising when she was10 years old and is well on her way to achieving the £25,000 target. Dressing up as Charlie Chaplin and producing a short music video has inspired many to help and even has the backing of the Chaplin family. Bethany’s Walk of Smiles, a 10km walk that attracted hundreds of school children, was so successful that she aims to have Walk of Smiles events all over the UK. She has recently set up her own charity called Bethany Hare’s Smile Foundation, known as Bethany’s Smile, that will raise money for children all over the country with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.
Bethany’s mother Yvonne said: "We can never thank Rotary enough for the wonderful support they are showing Bethany, which I know is inspiring her more than ever to continue with her fundraising."
It is hoped that Yvonne could shortly be a new member at the Leeds Rotary Club, which originally sponsored Bethany’s application for the RIBI Young Citizen Awards.
If you would like to know more, please visit the RIBI Young Citizen Awards or contact your local Rotary club.
