Selfless youngster wins competition to switch on Loughborough’s Christmas lights

The news was broken to Felicity by the Mayor Charnwood at a surprise assembly at her school.

A youngster who chose to donate her hair to charity has won the competition to switch on the town’s Christmas lights in front of thousands of people.

Nine-year-old, Felicity Chan stood out to judges for the selfless way that she has helped her mum Karolin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Felicity has also had to contend with her father Leon suffering a mini stroke in August this year. Both parents are now in recovery.

Despite this Felicity took it upon herself to raise funds for twin boys of a family friend who have cerebral palsy and needed equipment and treatments that were not available to them on the NHS.

Felicity raised over £1,000 for the boys by cutting her hair, which she later donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

The news was broken to Felicity by the Mayor Charnwood, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE and Cllr Jennifer Tillotson at a surprise assembly at her school, Thorpe Acre Junior School.

Watch our video of Felicity finding out here

Felicity's mum Karolin entered her into the competition for being ‘a brilliant daughter and sister’.

Karolin said: “It was very difficult being so ill during lockdown, but Felicity has been so helpful in looking after me with her dad and older siblings, despite only being five years old at the time.

“When I lost my hair during chemotherapy, she kept telling me that I still look pretty, like a princess. Whatever the situation, Felicity always wants to carry on and make us proud, which of course she does.

“With everything that has happened in the past few years, it will mean the world to Felicity and our family to see her turn on the Christmas lights in Loughborough.”

The Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE, who attended the assembly with the Mayoress Julie Ellerbeck, said: “It was an honour to be on the judging panel and to read so many amazing stories. There are a lot of brave, brilliant and selfless children in Charnwood.

“Reading Felicity’s story really moved me, and to be able to give her the opportunity to do something fun and exciting in front of so many people has given me a huge sense of pride.”

The Light Up Loughborough winner has also received tickets to this year’s pantomime, Snow White, at Loughborough Town Hall and a £50 Love Loughborough voucher.

The Christmas lights will be switched on in Loughborough on Friday, November 29, on the first day of a weekend filled with festive fun in the town.