AN inspirational youngster from South Shields who lost part of her leg seven months ago has been rewarded for her bravery.

Imogen Carr, seven, was given a sparkling new pink bike as an early Christmas present.

She was forced to have the bottom half of her left leg amputated in May after having many operations to try and correct her left foot when she was growing up.

The Monkton Junior School pupil was born with club feet and amniotic band syndrome, forcing her to spend most of her time growing up with her foot in a cast.

After the operation she was back in class within two weeks and was practicing walking on her new prosthetic limb as quickly as possible.

Now she has plans to get going on her new bike, which was presented to her as part of an evening of Christmas celebration at Jarrow Civic Hall.

Eighty children from South Tyneside received gifts as part of Community Corner’s Christmas Wishes campaign, supported by bank TSB.

Imogen’s father Chris Carr attended the event with his daughter, wife Jeni and their son Jack, four.

He said: “To see Imogen walking around with a bike means more than I can put into words.

“I’ve been blown away by it all, I’m just speechless really.

“We have had being here with all the other kids and seeing them get their presents and celebrating.

“It brings everyone together at this time of year and there are things all families would not be able to get for their children.

“Community Corner have stepped in and brought us an extra bit of happiness.

“They have had a positive impact on us and on countless other people in our community.”

All the children who received gifts have been poorly, lost loved ones, been brave or done something to help their community, which saw them nominated to receive a gift.

Presents included LOL dolls, Harry Potter books, make-up and clothing.

To support the fantastic work being done by Community Corner, local bank, TSB has donated £10,000 to enable them to continue to support the local community.

TSB also supported their Christmas Wishes campaign by donating gifts and helping to organise the event by wrapping gifts and helping to organise Santa’s special visit.

More than 150 people attended the event, where they enjoyed music, dancing and a buffet dinner.

Cheryl McDonald, who founded Community Corner with her mother Lynne Davis four years ago, said: “These are our people in our community and they matter.

“It’s very difficult to get funding if you’re not a charity and there were a lot people who needed help and we have been able to do it.

“TSB are our sponsors and they have been amazing with their support for us. They donated £10,000 to help us keep running so we can help even more people.

“We decided to get together to do Christmas Wishes and provide some happiness to the children of South Tyneside.

“There’s a lot of children who have bene through unimaginable tough times this year, whether have lost loved ones or helped with fund-raising for their own specific cause.

“We wanted to show them they are appreciated and loved.

“TSB’s motto is people helping people and we share that view, it’s really important and it’s what we do.”

Community Corner won the TSB Community Partner Award at this year’s Pride of the North East Awards.

They work with a small team of staff and volunteers, who help them in their goal for raising money for causes in the area – with more than £150,000 given away so far.

They have bought life-changing equipment including a specialist wheelchair for a youngster who needed it and school shoes for someone whose mother could not afford any.

Bev Gibson, area director for TSB in North East England and Cumbria, said: “Community Corner are TSB’s Pride of the North East community winners for 2018, they are a mother and daughter double act who are completely funded through donations in the local community.

“They are completely selfless women who give everything to help children and families who need extra support in the South Tyneside area.

“It was a fantastic way to spend an evening so close to Christmas.

‘We said we’d help the girls at Community Corner with a Christmas Wishes campaign. They asked for nominations and within two weeks they had 80.’

“We were able to make 80 of those Christmas wishes come true, so that’s a fantastic thing to be involved in.

“That’s what TSB do, were all about people helping people, so I’m really proud to have been there.”

Community Corner won the TSB Community Partner Award at this year’s Pride of the North East Awards. For more stories like this visit tsb.co.uk/local-pride

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