A 14-year-old pupil who raised money to buy gifts for children staying in hospital over Christmas has received a Maltings Community Hero Award.

Herts Advertiser: Maltings Community hero. Picture: DANNY LOOMaltings Community hero. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2018 Danny Loo Photography - all rights reserved)

Lucy Green, who is in Year 9 at Loreto College, raised nearly £200 for children at the Starfish Ward at Watford General Hospital by holding a raffle at her school. She enlisted the help of other Year 9 pupils to raise money from the other pupils and teachers.

She said: “I was thinking about the children that would be staying over Christmas in the hospital and I wanted to bring Christmas to them.

“I wanted to give them activities to do so it would feel like they were at home.”

Lucy bought the prizes for the raffle at Loreto, which included sweets and make-up. She said: “We went round to all the different classes in the school and lots of people wanted to get involved.”

Along with some of her school friends, Lucy delivered the presents to the children in hospital on Tuesday, December 19 last year.

There were around 20 children on the ward at the time, ranging from age nought to 16, who received jigsaw puzzles, toys and activities so they would have something to pass the time while in hospital.

She said: “It was all activity stuff that will keep them amused.

“I really liked the idea of raising money for a local hospital and it made me think because every child should be able to spend Christmas at home with their families. I wanted to do something that was just going to brighten their days.

“I would like to raise money for the ward again because I thought it was a really good thing to do and it was going to help the children.

“I was really shocked to receive the award. It was really incredible because I wouldn’t have ever thought I would get an award like this.”

As well as the Community Award, Lucy was handed a cheque for £100 to thank her for her fundraising efforts.

Speaking about how she would like to spend the money, she said: “I have been thinking about it and I’ve always wanted a Pandora ring - it’s something that I’ve always wanted but I’ve never bought one, and that’s what I would like it to go towards.”