Doddington's brave 'Isla the Smiler' receives top Girlguiding award for being a star
A brave Doddington Brownie who is suffering from a brain tumour has been awarded a top award by the Girlguiding movement.
Isla McNulty, seven, a member of 2nd Doddington Brownies, is celebrating after receiving the Guiding Star award.
The Guiding Star is an award for Girlguiding members aged under 26 years old who have displayed exceptional courage and determination in challenging situations.
Isla was nominated for the award after being ill for 18 months before eventually being diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2020.
Since then, Isla has undergone weeks of daily radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy, with many more weeks of treatment to come.
Jane Groves, Isla’s former Rainbow leader and local district commissioner, said: “She is always smiling and is known far and wide as ‘Isla the Smiler!’.
"Throughout all this time Isla still had a smile on her face whenever you saw her and did not allow this physical sickness to stop her enjoying life.
"Her bravery then was immense but now it is unbelievable! Isla has a long road ahead of her but we truly believe that she really is a Guiding Star.”
The national Girlguiding Awards committee were really moved by the nomination from Rebecca Fisher, Isla’s Brownie leader, and Jane, which was done without Isla or her family knowing anything about it.
The committee said: “Isla is an exceptionally brave girl who is coping with her difficulties with a resilience and resourcefulness way beyond her seven years. Known for her smiling and positive outlook, Isla has been able to cope with all her challenges and kept on taking part in her Brownie activities.
"Her Brownie friends speak warmly of how kind and helpful she is despite the fact she is very poorly. Adults are amazed at how well she copes and the determination she shows. We are delighted to award Isla a Guiding Star.”
Isla received the award in a socially distanced but emotional ceremony in Isla’s front garden last week in the presence of Ann Mitchell, president of Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East, who took along the County Standard of Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East.
It was witnessed by Isla’s parents, Laura and Ian and her sister, Enya, a member of Rainbows in Doddington, with her Brownie leaders standing back at a distance.
