St Albans student nominated for Young Person of the Year award
Elouise Wathen. Supplied by Young Person of the Year. - Credit: Archant
A St Albans student has been nominated for a Young People of the Year award after running a stage show which raised £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Elouise Wathen, 15, from Beaumont School, ran the ‘Let Me Entertain You’ show at the Abbey Theatre, which featured music, comedy and dance from performers in their teens through to their seventies.
Her mum, Susanna Cheek, said: “As a family we have been involved with the Abbey Theatre in St Albans for many years, so she asked them if she could create and put on a show on the May bank holiday weekend and then started phoning and emailing people.”
Elouise wanted to raise money for Macmillan after several of her family members died from cancer, and several others were diagnosed with the condition.
Susanna said: “Rather than just say ‘oh no, how awful’ Elouise said ‘what can we do to help?’”
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“We supported her with some marketing, I was stage manager and her father Julian Wathen sang and played guitar, but it was really Elouise’s show and she fitted it in with her school work.”
The show was received by a raucous audience, including Elouise’s uncle Jonathan Cheek, who is currently being treated for breast and lung cancer, and who said he was “pleased and proud” of his niece.
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After the success of her show, Elouise was nominated by her tutor Shannon Cripps for the Mitsubishi Electric Young People of the Year Awards (YOPEYs).
Mrs Cripps said: “Elouise showed exceptional organisational skills, resilience and leading by example.
“She is a sensitive and caring young lady and few teenagers have the vision and acumen to set such a high goal and then go out and achieve it so successfully.”
The awards have a total of £1,000 to give away to winners who have given to others.
To find out more about the awards, visit www.yopey.org
