MOST teenagers celebrate their 18th birthday with a night on the town but Kizzy Horgan decided to mark it by starting 12 months of charity projects.

The drama student from Cassington, near Witney, kicked off her 12 Months of Giving project last month by taking part in the Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk.

And the student of community arts practice, at the BRIT School of Performing Arts and Technology in London, is hoping her project can raise money for charity and inspire others to get involved.

She said: “My 18th was on August 21 but back in June I did the Cancer Research Race for Life.

“That was the start of me realising we can do something to affect other people’s lives.

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“It was nearing my 18th birthday and I wanted to involve myself and help others so I decided to mark my birthday by trying something like this.”

Miss Horgan, who lives in Cassington with mum Janine, chose the Alzheimer’s Society as her first charity after her grandmother passed away in June after suffering from the disease.

This month she is supporting children in Syria through charity World Vision’s night of hope.

The event, on Halloween night, encourages people to carve a heart in a pumpkin and share it on social media to raise awareness and money.

Next month she will support anti-bullying week by touring local primary schools and performing plays which encourage children to tackle bullying.

She said: “I want to raise awareness and funding and just show people how easy it is to give to someone else.

“I have had involvement in theatre since I was five, when I got involved with a music charity in Oxford called Hopeful Notes.

“I wanted to use my talent to help people so I got more involved over the years.”

Miss Horgan is now planning for the rest of her 12-month charitable journey and will soon decide what cause to support in December.

She said she hopes to continue her charity work after she graduates in May.

The 18-year-old added: “After school I am thinking about running mini theatre projects in the community throughout the year to raise awareness about giving to charity and help inspire people.”


 

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