St Albans teens are runners-up in Young People awards

Two local teenagers were among the runners-up in a competition recognising and rewarding young unsung heroes who give to the community across Hertfordshire .

Tally Green, 15, of Magnolia Close, Park Street, and Joshua Pile, 13, of Newfield Way, St Albans, were finalists in the Mitsubishi Electric Young People of the Year, also known as the YOPEYs.

Tally has set up a charity in memory of her dad Michael to help Type 2 diabetes sufferers. Michael died of a heart attack last December caused by complications from the condition.

The charity has already raised £18,000 and paid for a specialist kitchen at Watford General Hospital to educate diabetic patients.

Joshua, a pupil at Sandringham School, helps his parents look after his elder brother who has epilepsy and learning difficulties. Whenever Luke has a seizure, Joshua is there to put him in the recovery position and reassure him when he comes round.

As runners-up in the highly competitive competition, both Tally and Joshua were given £50 donations to their charities and can enter again in future years.

The winner was Kirsty Dowton, 25, from Hertford who has dedicated years of volunteering to youth groups. She led a sponsored walk despite having cerebral palsy and spina bifida and having one leg in a brace and using walking sticks.

Founder Tony Gearing, a former national newspaper journalist who set up YOPEY to promote positive role models among the young, said: “Tally and Josh should not be disappointed, all Young People of the Year finalists are winners.”