'Kind and caring' Lake District girl wins award

Nine-year-old Lily Dann, from Ambleside, was nominated for the annual Jimmy Renouf Trophy for all the volunteering work she has done to help at the town’s CancerCare drop-in sessions.

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Jimmy Renouf was a pupil at Ambleside Primary School when he became ill with leukaemia and died just two years later in 1990, aged eight. 

A silver cup in his memory is awarded each year at the school to someone whose especially kind, brave or unselfish actions have helped others.

The Ambleside drop-in group has just celebrated 25 years of offering support, friendship and practical advice to local people living with cancer, meeting every week in the Kelsick Centre, opposite the florist shop owned by Joanne Dann, Lily’s mother.

Lily said: “A man was selling teddy bears outside the centre. I just went across the road to ask if they needed help there.”

Mrs Dann said: “I thought she had gone missing but she went over to the group and offered to help. Nobody told her to, she just went by herself.”

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Besides selling raffle tickets and helping out at the coffee mornings, Lily is also a Brownie and helps her parents in their florist shop and café. 

Joan Newby, 95, who runs the support group, nominated Lily for the award for ‘thinking of others.’

“Lily is a wonderful child,” said Mrs Newby. “She is pleasant, happy and kind.

“She doesn’t have any previous connection to CancerCare but she still helps out because she wants to. 

“I care for her like she was one of my own.”

 Sarah Carrick, head teacher Ambleside Primary School, said: “Lily is a lovely girl.

“She is a caring child, who is always thinking of others in and outside the school.” 

Neil Townsend, chief executive of CancerCare, said: “She has been a little star helping out with teas and coffees and generally being a little ray of sunshine.”

Lily said: “I have made a new year’s resolution to continue going to the group. I want to keep helping.”