We were truly touched to read about a generous act by one of the winners of our "Dear Future Self" writing competition so thought we'd share the story here.
Our Club runs a number of activities for young people, including three regular competitions: our winter/Christmas-themed writing competition for primary school aged children, our Innovation Competition for secondary school aged youngsters and, more recently, our "Dear Future Self" competition. Through each of these competitions we want to encourage young people to think creatively and we hope, perhaps, to inspire them. But the kind act of one competition winner recently is also an inspiration to us!
Article text reproduced in full below (with permission) and is also available on the Dover Grammar School for Girls website.
Inspirational Y7 student donates Prize Money to King’s Hospital, London
Y7 student, Sophie Châu won a competition prize of £250 back in March. The competition was run by the Rotary Club of Canterbury and Rotarian, Brain Dobinson visited DGGS to personally present the 1st place prize to Sophie and 3rd place winner Jessica.
The competition was designed for students to think about how life may change in the future and to write a message to their ‘future self’ intended to be delivered in 25 years!
When Sophie found out she had won 1st prize she decided to donate her winnings to Kings’ Hospital, London where she is currently under a consultant following neurosurgery in 2019.
Sophie travelled to King’s last week and met with her consultant neurologist Dr David McCormick and Nikki Twallin (Senior Community Fundraiser at the Kings’ College Hospital Charity). She was able to talk to David and Nikki for about half an hour and explained all about the competition and why she had felt she wanted to donate her prize.
It was lovely to hear that Sophie’s donation is going to be spent within paediatric neurology helping children who have suffered the same loss of mobility and difficulties moving limbs after brain illness or injury/surgery that Sophie experienced herself.
Sophie was hugely fortunate to regain her mobility down her left side after her therapy but many children struggle for far longer or are unable to regain their full range of mobility or lose strength. Sophie was over the moon!
Sophies parents are so grateful to the Canterbury Rotary Club and DGGS for enabling her to have this experience, they say it has been the best therapy for her!
Form Tutor, Miss Porter said that ‘Sophie is a true role model for the school’.
With thanks to DGGS for permission to reproduce this article and picture.
