A TEENAGER who helped her best friend battle leukaemia could be named one of Essex’s top young people.

Harriet Ellis, 14, from Woodfield Road, Hadleigh, has been nominated for an Essex Young People of the Year Award, for the care and attention she gave Jodie Brittney, also 14.

The friends, who live in the same street and go to King John School, in Thundersley, stuck together when Jodie was diagnosed with leukaemia, a cancer of the blood, when she was just 11.

Jodie said her friend organised fundraising events, such as cake sales, for charity and kept her up to date with her school work and visited her regularly to check on her recovery.

Jodie, who has been in remission for a year, said: “Harriet would send me letters telling me what was happening at school, or else she’d call, or Facetime me.

“My treatment carried on for two years, both at home and with day trips to hospital.

“Harriet would get really worried about me. There were times I felt really isolated, but she made me feel better, even if it meant her just sitting there.

“It made me feel safe just having her there. She’d come to my home every day for two hours and when I went back to school, she’d always make sure I was OK.”

Harriet said: “I was upset when I found out Jodie had leukaemia and wanted to help her. So I’d take her maths homework.

She’s really kind and funny and really bossy! But then I’m bossy as well.

“We enjoy doing cake sales, dancing and we sit together at lunch. She’s my best friend.”

Harriet was nominated for the award by King John teacher, Lino Del Rosario, and could win £300 to spend on herself and a good cause.

The teacher said: “Harriet is a truly exemplary student. She is considerate, polite, kind and supportive person. In her tutor group, everyone admires her and thinks of her as a role model.”

Harriet’s mum Nicola, said: “Sometimes your children take you by surprise and even as a parent you are bowled over.

That’s just her nature. She has always been very supportive.

She’s been a ray of sunshine.”

This year’s Essex Young People of the Year award ceremony will take place at the Queen Mary University, in London, in November, with the date to be confirmed.

To find out more about the awards, go to youngpeopleofthe year.org