news story

12th March 2010

Local Girl Continues to Shine

(L-R) Steve Webb MP, Ashley White and Charlotte Rogers-Jones, Development Director at Westonbirt School

Seventeen year-old Ashley White from Old Sodbury, who last summer topped the national tables for GCSE results, has continued to shine academically, winning a prize for a moving essay about her grandfather’s life and death with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Ashley, 17, who won a scholarship to Westonbirt School in the Summer, entered the school’s annual St. John’s essay prize and wrote a 2500 word essay telling the story of her grandfather’s progressive struggle with Alzheimer’s, and its impact on her family. In a particularly moving passage, Ashley describes how her grandfather’s memory failed to the extent that he began to call his granddaughter by his daughter’s name.

Her grandfather, Norman Chappin, died in 2004, and since then Ashley has been concerned to do more for people with the disease. She has organised a non-uniform day at school which has raised more than £200 for Bristol-based Alzheimer’s Charity, BRACE, and on Sunday 14th will run the ‘Hogweed Trotters’ hilly half-marathon again in aid of BRACE. On Friday (12th March) Ashley met her MP Steve Webb who had been so impressed with the essay that he wanted to meet Ashley to hear more about the background to it.

Steve Webb said:

“Ashley’s essay is a brilliant and moving account of the way in which Alzheimer’s can gradually destroy someone’s identity and the devastating impact that it can have on those who care for a loved one. I am very impressed that Ashley and her fellow pupils have been motivated to raise money for such a worthwhile cause as BRACE, and I am delighted that young people are taking such an interest in a condition which mainly affects older people”.

Ashley said:

“Alzheimer’s research is woefully underfunded. It is a disease which affects so many people but is a silent killer compared with more high profile diseases which hit the headlines. It deserves much more support.

Local people wanting to support Ashley’s fundraising efforts can sponsor her via the website at: www.justgiving.com/Ashley-White