SEVENTEEN-year-old Courtney-Lee Collins, is celebrating the success of her fundraising Catwalk pageant she held in Aveley at the weekend. With a 6 strong panel of judges, more than 50 contestants competed in five fun rounds to test their modelling skills.
Courtney-Lee’s event raised £1200 for charity. The event was a originally planned as a fundraiser for Follow Your Dreams, a national charity based in Wales helping children with special needs and learning difficulties. Courtney-Lee is a Young Ambassador for them and plans to donate £1000. She is also making a £100 donation to St Luke’s Hospice at Basildon and to the Nicky Mason Memorial Fund in Aveley. As these are local charities, she has recently learned of, Courtney-Lee is planning some other fund raising ideas later in the year to help them.
There was also an award at the event, for the highest donators of items for Thurrock Foodbank. This was a resounding success, so much so that the Foodbank van had to make a special trip to come and collect. The donations were weighed in at 351kg…over a quarter of a ton!!
After having recently won the Pride of Essex Award for Inspirational Youth, Courtney-Lee is hoping to continue this success when she takes to the International catwalk in Paris as part of Team England in the Spring. As part of this event, Courtney-Lee will be raising money for a charity of her choice.
Mum Wendy, said she couldn’t be more proud of her daughter, who is always looking to help within her community and raise funds for good causes, whilst studying for A levels in Law, Psychology and English Literature at the Ockendon Academy’s Sixth Form.
Courtney-Lee is planning another Catwalk event for April. If anyone is interested in taking part please email essexteenfog@hotmail.com
