A BRAVE teenager spurred on by staggering personal tragedy has spoken about her hopes for the future.
Two of Chelsea Riley’s brothers suffer from an inc-urable brain disease called adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD.
And the selfless 16-year-old donated bone marrow to 13-year-old Cody in the hope it will give him the chance of a long, and normal life.
Cody, and his baby cousin Rory, were diagnosed when they were tested after youn-ger brother McCauley, eight, became terminally ill.
ALD has seen ‘Mac’ deteriorate to the point where he cannot move, talk, or speak.
Sadly, he was too poorly to receive a bone marrow tran-splant from Chelsea.
Now Chelsea, who lives in Feniscowles with her family, said she hopes enrolling on Blackburn Youth Zone’s Young Leaders’ programme will help her fulfill her amb-ition of working with disab-led children.
And she has called on Lanc- ashire Telegraph readers to help others like her by back-ing the Teen Leaders' camp-aign.
With public support, the Youth Zone, in association with the Lancashire Teleg-raph, wants to develop the Young Leaders’ programme and give youngsters access to weekly workshops, work experience, accredited short courses, key resources, and a recognised qualification, by raising £60,000.
Chelsea said: “I have been a member here for around six months.
“I enjoy being around diff-erent people and being with new friends, and it’s better than being in the streets.
“The Youth Zone has help-ed me to be more confident, and has encouraged me to carry on.”
Chelsea, who plans to enrol on an apprenticeship sch-eme, added: “If people don-ate a little bit of money, we can keep the opportunity for other children, and we won’t have to stop.”
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