A TEENAGER who raised £6,000 for charity in under a week, following her brother’s sudden death, has been nominated for a Young People of the Year (YOPEY) award.

Florence Clark, 18, wanted to raise the money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance to thank the paramedics for trying to save her brother Tristan, 21, who suddenly took ill at home in Fowlmere Road, Foxton, after a long-haul flight.

The paramedics were unable to revive him and it is believed he died from a pulmonary embolism.

Florence and 10 friends will be running a half-marathon in Tristan’s memory and have so far collectively raised more than £10,000.

YOPEY is open to people aged 10 to 25 who live, work or study in Hertfordshire and give to others. Entrants include fundraisers, young carers, club leaders and volunteers.

The top prize is £800, with a total of £2,000 to give away.

Florence was nominated by her friend Lily Crossley, who said: “I believe Florence should win a YOPEY as she has shown immense courage and bravery at creating something positive out of something so heartbreakingly tragic.”

Florence’s dad, Dominic, said: “There was no sign of any problems. We still can’t believe it. He was a fit, healthy, young man. It’s likely he developed a thrombosis and part had broken off and blocked his heart.”

He added: “He was an enormously popular young man. He was a family person, but we didn’t realise the number of friends he had. My daughter absolutely adored him, he was so important to her.”

Florence and Tristan’s mum, Erica, said: “I am immensely proud of Florence as she is being so strong for me. She’s being a star and is really keeping her eye on the ball. On top of that, she’s doing all this fundraising and getting people to train.

“Tristan died on the Friday and she and her friends decided they would do a run and she set up a JustGiving webpage within days. She set herself a target of £6,000.”

Florence and her friends have already started training for the Grunty Fen half-marathon on September 8.

She said: “I am quite fit, but while studying A-levels I’ve not had much time for running. But now I find it kind of a release. I can clear my head and get out of the house when I’m running.”

She added: “I decided if I can raise money and help other people, it may save them going through what we’ve been through.”

To support Florence, visit www.justgiving.com/florence-clark1 to make a donation.

Sponsors of this year’s YOPEY include Johnson Matthey of Royston, TTP Group of Melbourn and North Hertfordshire District Council.

To nominate someone you know for a YOPEY, visit www.yopey.org or write to YOPEY, PO Box 236, Newmarket, CB8 1DP for a paper entry form. Entry closes on July 31.