Role models come in all shapes and sizes and when it comes to being an inspiration, age shouldn’t have a bearing.
Many young people across the county have accomplished so much and three, awe-inspiring under 25s have been shortlisted for this year’s Inspirational Young Person of the Year Award, sponsored by McShane Packaging.
The award will celebrate those outstanding young people across Co Armagh, who work hard to inspire others with their energy and positive attitude. Vote for your winner here.
Mallaidh Loughran, described as a “fantastic” 17 year old, is one such individual. The epitome of what it means to be a hard-worker, Mallaidh gives her all to her Gaelic Football teams, (Clady Ladies GAA, Shamrocks Ladies GAA and Armagh Ladies Over 16s), cares for her mother with MS; doing everything in her power to make her life that “little bit easier”, alongside caring for her two cousins who have been diagnosed with autism, supporting their mother and “helping the children as if they were her own”.
Mallaidh has also been a continuous source of strength for her friend who sadly lost her mother due to breast cancer in 2021.
One nominator said: “Mallaidh has been an incredible person to have in our lives. She has helped me a great amount with my daughter since she was born. Mallaidh has prevented me from burnout by helping out, she is the most kind and beautiful person inside and out, she has a heart of gold and even plays sport 3/4 nights a week and between that and exams still fits in time to be a helper to me and my daughter.”
16-year-old Aaron Winters is also a shining example of what it means to be a selfless helper. Once nominated as a Belfast Telegraph’s young 999 hero at age 3, Aaron took 2nd place for saving his infant brother’s life and has been continuing to help people as he has grown.
Described as “shy and very anti-social” he can find it difficult to make friends, however since starting secondary school Aaron has become a prefect and joined the Aspire NI charity group which helps disadvantaged children in NI with education, uniforms and summer camps.
At home he has become a significant figure in his sister’s upbringing. With 14 years between them he has stepped up and been “glued to her since birth”.
A nominator described him as “a very caring respectful young man with a keen interest in animal welfare, children and the elderly.”
Katie Helliwell who is 22-years-old has excelled in the last few years academically despite struggling with a diagnosis of dyslexia and suffering the sudden passing of her father during her GCSE years.
She then joined SRC to study Plumbing Level Two and went on to study Foundation in Building Construction. She was accepted onto a Higher Apprenticeship in Building Construction and was then employed by Masscott Construction.
In her first year she was instrumental in carrying out refurbishments across Northern Ireland with the Housing Executive as a Junior Project Manager. She was nominated as Apprentice of the year with the Federation of Building Construction, and came a very worthy second.
Owing to her successes, SRC invited her to be a Student Ambassador to give a presentation to students who might be interested in Building Construction careers. It is of note that several young ladies have been inspired to apply to the SRC, as a result of her talk.
She is also a keen sportswoman, doing mountain biking, canoeing, and hoop exercises. This year she is taking on the Belfast Half Marathon, on the Masscott Construction team, for their nominated charity.
One of her nominators said of Katie: “All who know her are inspired by the way that she picks herself up, and carries on, despite events that are thrown at her, or her own private grief.”
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