During a year in which national events and politics, such as the cost-of-living crisis, have arguably reflected more downs than ups, in Havering there have been no end of inspiring stories from local heroes.
From swimming the English Channel to running an animal sanctuary in Cambodia, people in Havering have once again stepped up to the plate and reflected the heart of the local community.
One of the year’s most tragic events, the fire which ripped through Wennington this summer, also resulted in countless tales of bravery and kindness.
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Fundraisers, including that set up by ex-Wennington resident Natalie De Lucia, raised thousands for those impacted by the blaze.
Natalie’s fundraiser specifically raised more than £35,000 as of the end of December, with £11,000 in the first 30 hours.
On the response from the community, Natalie said: “It’s made me tearful, and it’s made the residents tearful to see the community coming together.”
Jennifer Cyprien, who lives in the village, later spoke to the Recorder about the “complete kindness of people” shown following the fire.
She said: “You generally believe in the kindness of people, and then when you actually see it, and you feel it, it’s brought a lot of us to tears at times."
This year has also seen a number of inspiring individuals taking to various athletic endeavours to raise money for worthy causes.
Hornchurch-based Tony Gladman, a London firefighter, was running the London Marathon to raise money for his 15-year-old cousin Bethany, who was undergoing treatment for a brain tumour.
Following a final fundraising event for Bethany in November, Tony had managed to accrue a total of £8,000, to be split between her family and a local charity, First Step.
Commenting after the event, he said: “It was amazing, unbelievable to see the support that came out from the community, with everyone coming together to help.”
Hayley Ziepe, also from Hornchurch, was another to put some hard yards in to help support others.
Swimming rather than running, Hayley tackled the English Channel as part of a relay team, with all donations going to the drowning prevention charity SwimTayka.
Raising a total of £12,000 for the charity, Hayley said she was “proud” of her team, adding the money would “be amazing for the charity”.
Slightly further away from home, Rush Green student Georgia Kaczorowski and her partner Billy Gene spoke on the animal sanctuary and charity they are running in Cambodia, established several years ago while they were backpacking around south east Asia.
Describing the project as a “lifetime mission”, the pair set up the charity Animals of our World and House of Strays after witnessing some of the conditions animals in the country were enduring.
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Back in May, they told this paper that they were hosting 108 rescues, consisting of 65 dogs, 42 cats and one chicken.
“People mean it when they say this work is not for the faint-hearted,” Georgia said. “But I've found something in life that I believe in and will fight for.
“We hope you feel as passionate about our mission as we do.”
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