Opening her own hair salon at the tender age of 18 was a feat in itself for Alnwick’s Becca Allan.
But, wise beyond her years, the former Duchess’s Community High School pupil picked up the Fund-raiser of the Year accolade for her efforts in raising cash for the Children’s Cancer Ward at Newcastle RVI.
Becca, who eats, sleeps and breathes hair and beauty, opened Bex Hair and Beauty on Alnwick’s Bailiffgate in October last year.
Since then the business has gone from strength-to-strength and, despite the long hours, Becca still found time to raise money for charity.
She has held numerous events for the ward at the RVI and Barclay’s Bank was so impressed with her efforts that it agreed to match-fund the last event pound-for-pound.
Becca has a letter from the Houses of Parliament on her wall, congratulating her for her tireless work.
She said: “It’s absolutely amazing to get this award. I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. It wouldn’t have been possible without the whole community. I have had so much support. Without my family and the salon I wouldn’t have been able to do it at all.
“It’s been absolutely amazing, I totally didn’t expect it. There isn’t a specific reason why I chose to raise money for the RVI but it’s just something that has stuck and I will continue to raise money just for that charity.”
Also nominated: Hedley Heron, from Rothbury, who cycled from the village to Land’s End, then John O’Groats, and back to Rothbury in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance, and Shirley Sanderson, from Bedlington, who tirelessly raises money for St Oswald’s Hospice.