Emily is a glorious fund-raiser champ

A year of incredible activities has seen Emily Cunliffe accumulate over £5,000 for various good causes as part of her role as a Teen Crown and Glory champion.

And nearly half of that has been raised in under just four months!

Emily has collected over £2,300 for Dean’s Journey, part of the Solving Kids’ Cancer Charity, since the start of the year.

The 14-year-old’s efforts have included creating dozens of Easter hampers, raffles, tombolas and bag packing sessions at local supermarkets.

Now, as the business end of her challenge looms in July, the Norley teen is looking to cap things off in style by hitting a target of £3,500 for Dean’s Journey.

And if she reaches the figure, she will be in with a chance of winning the national Teen Crown and Glory UK title, which will send her through to the world finals in Paris.

Mum Linda Sym said Emily has always been a natural born fund-raiser.

“She loves doing stuff for charity,” Linda said.

“She’s worked so hard and I am so proud.”

Emily has also raised huge sums for the likes of Make A Wish, brain injury charity Headway East Kent, and Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

“In pageants, it’s not all about wearing pretty dresses and getting on stage,” said Linda.

“The charity side of it is really important part of it as well it help towards your scores as this is what pageants are all about.

“There is a title for the person who raises the most money for charity.

“Promoting the charity and the pageant is a really important thing to do when taking part.”

Emily’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed by the wider community either.

Local businesses have donated scores of gifts and items for several raffles.

And she was recently nominated for Young Fund-raiser of the Year.

“To see her name put forward is amazing,” Linda said.

“I know she has worked really hard over the past 18 months, and it was nice to see that people have recognised Emily’s hard work.

“She is a real inspiration to young girls, to show how much you can achieve.

“Pageants can bring out the best qualities in you.”

Crown and Glory is a national beauty pageant, and is one of the largest in the UK. It supports Dean’s Journey, a children’s brain cancer charity which helps families affected by neuroblastoma.

For more information and to help Emily’s fund-raising drive, visit justgiving.com/Emily-Cunliffe3.