Award honours brave daughter (From thisisoxfordshire)

Award honours brave daughter

2:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Joe Nimmo, Senior reporter. Call me on (01865) 425373.

A TEENAGER who became an inspiration to others after her mother died of cancer has been recognised with an award.

Pandora Sinclair-Pearson, 16, of Harberton Mead, Headington, was honoured by Stagecoach Oxford, the stage school she has attended since she was four years old.

She received a Gold for Achievement award in recognition of her positive attitude, efforts to inspire young people at the school and hard work raising money for Oxford’s Sobell House hospice.

She also came up with a mascot for the hospice charity – Sonny the Sobell Bear.

Pandora, who lost her mother to cancer in 2009, said: “It was really, really hard. She was such a big part of my life.

“As well as being a mum she was like a big sister and a best friend, I could talk to her about anything.

“I wanted to be just like her and I am still trying to be.”

The award, presented at a ceremony at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London last month, was sponsored by Billy Elliot the Musical.

Pandora’s father Andrew, 46, said it was a poetic coincidence as Billy Elliot was the last production Pandora’s mum saw her in.

He said: “I was so proud to see her receive the award.

“She is so committed to supporting the charity, but she is also a good role model for the rest of the stage school, because she hasn’t let the things that have happened get her down.

“You have to get up and carry on. That’s what her mum would have wanted, for her to live her life happily and fully.”

Pandora added: “When I heard I was going to the ceremony I was so excited – I just couldn’t believe it.

“And I wasn’t expecting to get an award at all, I was just trying to have fun.

“When I went up on stage to collect my award I just burst into tears.”

Maya Sprigg, principal of Stagecoach Oxford, said: “Pandora was determined to look for positives and has devoted herself to raising money for Sobell House.

“She has remained resolute and positive, caring, focused, and brave throughout everything.

“I know her mother would be very proud to see her here today.’’