Kirsty Ashton MBE
What a great story. Readers, do you know of any other DisAbled people who have been honoured by the Queen this New Year? Please let us know in the comments below.
Fundraiser Kirsty Ashton says she wants her MBE to help make the wishes of sick and terminally ill children come true.
The 21-year-old has raised tens of thousands of pounds for When You Wish Upon A Star – despite battling serious health issues herself.
Ms Ashton is working on a £100,000 campaign to ensure 43 children and their families can escape for a week in Centre Parcs – the first “wishes” the charity has had to turn down.
The Neurofibromatosis sufferer said: “I have been to Centre Parcs and I know what it meant to my family. I was in hospital for three months and my mum did not go home.”
Ms Ashton said she was shocked when the letter informing her of the MBE dropped on the mat.
She said: “I was just reading it – I did not understand why I was receiving it for having a hobby. The book and the website and charity work is something close to my heart – but to me it’s like how boys play football.”
She started raising money for the charity in 1998. By Christmas 2008, her fundraising total stood at £65,000 – enough to send 65 children on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lapland.
By 2011, she had raised £87,000 with the goal of sending children and families on five-day breaks to Centre Parcs – with many of them facing their last family holiday there.
Her fundraising target has been raised to £140,000 – and she said she is hoping the recognition in the New Year Honours helps to boost funds for When You Wish Upon A Star.
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hi im kirsty i have nf 1 and hypermobilty.you are my idol because i have nf1 and hypermobiltey i had a tumor removed in my neck in march 2011 i had problems in priamry becase people were proding me with pens and penicls it was very hard when i satrted buile hill it felt diffrent but when mrs:hill (laila) told me i could meet you i was so happy i want your book for my birthday so if you read this please tell me the place where i can get it cheapest
manu thanks
marisa ryan
xxxx
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sorry i ment hi kirtys
and many thanks sorry about that
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