Ella Appeals for Sponsors to Support Disadvantaged Children in Morocco
Ella McKenzie, an award winning Young Adult Carer who works for Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, is appealing for sponsors to support her fund raising appeal to help young disadvantaged and disabled children in Morocco.
The trip is being organised by Cambridge Regional College and is part of a course Ella is studying on Higher Sports Leaders. She is among a group of 30 students taking part in the trip, hoping to make a difference to the lives of street children and those with disabilities, teaching them English and sports. The group will also help out at an orphanage.
Ella, 20, has raised more than half towards the £500 needed to buy sporting equipment for her week’s trip to Marrakech in May 2016 by taking part in an 18 hour marathon gym session covering a staggering 71.5 miles on various cardio machines.
“I would really appreciate if anyone could sponsor me for the remaining money I need to help us buy equipment to take out there,” said Ella.
I am so excited about this as it is something I feel will really benefit the children out there. I just love helping people!”
Last December Ella won the prestigious Queen’s Young Leader Award in recognition of her outstanding caring and leadership role in the community. This will be presented to her by the Queen in June.
She is one of just 60 young people from across the Commonwealth to receive this highly acclaimed award, one of only three recipients from the UK. The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.
Ella is also honoured to have been invited to represent the UK at the Commonwealth Service commemorating the Queen’s birthday which is being held at Westminster Abbey in May.
As well as being supported by Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Ella leads on projects for their Young Adult Carers and has trained staff and GPs, as well as MPs, about the needs of Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. In the last week she met MPs in Parliament to talk about mental health issues faced by young carers.
Ella has been the primary carer for her mother who suffers from fibromyalgia, a long-term chronic condition, as well as her younger brother, 12, for the last five years; her father died when she was 17.
Anyone who can help Ella can contact her by calling 01480 499090.
