Eighteen-year-old Megan Ridley loves crafts and when one of her carers suggested she create gifts using festive baubles she decided to give it a go…little realising it would result in her providing Christmas presents for children across the region.

Megan, who lives in the High Pit area of Cramlington, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. She attends Percy Hedley School in Forest Hall. With the help of her carer Jayne they made £70 for charity with bauble wreaths last year.

This year she decided to expand and create table decorations too and the planning started early.

Last January she and her mum started buying baubles in the sales and with supplies from family, friends and a generous donation from Wansbeck Garden Centre in Ashington, she was soon inundated with baubles.

This year, thanks to help from her extended family and friends, sales rocketed and in total over £600 was raised.

Megan chose to support Metro Radio’s Cash For Kids appeal which helps disadvantaged children across the North East. At first she went and bought presents herself but as she had raised so much money it was too big a task. She then used the charity’s Amazon option where you  buy the gifts online and the charity distributes them. Megan focused on gifts for babies and teenagers and was delighted with the number of gifts she was able to provide.

Megan said “I really enjoyed making the decorations and helping others just makes me feel good. Thank you to everyone who helped me raise so much money.”

Her mum Vicky Collins said “Megan is amazing. She’s a very kind and caring young lady but she’s also very determined and a bit cheeky – at times people have doubted her abilities and she likes to prove them wrong!”

If you know someone who you consider to be a ‘Neighbourhood Hero’, send the details to steve@cramlingtontowncouncil.gov.uk so we can give them the recognition they deserve.