Sisters nominated for Child Of The Year award (From York Press)

Juliet and Ella Taylor nominated for Child Of The Year award

8:31am Saturday 10th March 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

BRAVE twin sisters who supported each other when one became seriously ill have been nominated for The Press Community Pride awards.

Juliet and Ella Taylor, both four, have been put forward for the Child Of The Year category, which recognises young people who have shown courage in facing up to life’s hardships and challenges.

When Juliet was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Christmas Eve in 2010, she was rushed to hospital for surgery and the twins had to spend much of Christmas apart.

But Ella was obviously thinking of Juliet, as she kept a pink heart she found in a cracker and, without telling her parents Emma and Phil, took it to hospital and presented it to her sister.

Juliet stayed cheerful and brave throughout her treatment and the girls have continued to support one another throughout her recovery.

After Juliet was given the all-clear, Ella’s gesture inspired her parents to set up a fundraising appeal – Juliet’s Brave Heart Appeal – to raise money for children and their families from across the region who are treated in the specialist neurosciences and paediatric oncology wards at Leeds General Infirmary.

Emma nominated her daughters for the award, saying: “I’m incredibly proud of the way they have coped with Juliet’s illness and how they have cared for each other at such a young age. Juliet has faced various challenges through her illness – whether it’s been not being able to get to sleep or not feeling well – and Ella has always been very tolerant of her sister. She is very caring. Her gesture of giving the heart to her sister was very special.

“Juliet barely cried the whole time she was in hospital – the only time she cried was when they tried to take blood off her and when she came home from hospital. She can’t run as fast as the other children because of the operation but she never lets it get her down. She doesn’t let it bother her, she just goes on to the next thing. She brushes things off and smiles. She has a lovely sense of humour. Juliet talks about what happened a lot – she is incredibly proud of the doctors and nurses who were really lovely to her.

“I think children lead the way and teach you how to cope with things and they can be so resilient when awful things happen. They were always smiling, looking after each other and caring for each other. The girls really adore each other.”

The family aim to recognise children’s bravery with their fundraising appeal, which has seen them make and sell heart-shaped Christmas decorations and, most recently, team up with York Cocoa House in Blake Street to raise about £1,000 by making and selling heart-shaped “lovipops”.

The Community Pride Awards, which will have a York 800 flavour this year, are run in partnership with City of York Council and sponsored by Benenden Healthcare. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in October.