A GIRL from Anglesey was crowned junior title holder at the Young European Miss International (YEMI) pageant last week having spent the last several years raising more than £10,000 for various charities.

Macy Bates, aged 10, from Valley, received the title on February 13 at this year’s ceremony, which took place at Brierley Hill Civic Hall in the West Midlands.

Much of Macy’s fundraising efforts have been in aid of the Holyhead Stroke Group, a charity close to her family’s heart which she and her relatives regularly make contributions to.

As a winner at this year’s YEMI event, Macy now has the opportunity to appear at another pageant, in Texas in June, and her family have appealed for donations to help fund her trip to America.

Macy’s mother, Lisa, expressed her pride in her daughter’s efforts, which proved worthwhile after winning her “dream title”.

Lisa said: “I’m overly proud – she’s worked hard and it’s paid off. Over three years, she’s raised more than £10,000 for various charities, but the charity she’s fundraising for at the moment is the Holyhead Stroke Group.

“My mum and I have been fundraisers for the Holyhead Stroke Group for just over 20 years due to my grandparents passing away from a stroke, and then Macey and my niece, Courtney, decided to join us.

“We’re the only fundraisers for them, so they depend on us, really. We’ve done hours and hours of community work, and lots of appeals to collect things.

“We did a campaign with the North Wales pageant girls to collect toiletries for hospitals during the pandemic, called ‘Feel Goodies’. She’s done a lot for the communities; we’ve held fun days, prize bingo events, she did ‘Splash for Cash’ on New Year’s Day.

“We tend to do a lot for the local residential home; we take them Easter eggs and Christmas hampers.

“She’s got the option now to compete in Texas as a junior, but obviously, to do this, we’re looking for sponsors, but that’s where were hoping to get to. With flights and hotels, it’s going to cost about £3,500.

“She’s been doing pageants for three years but hadn’t actually won a title, so to win her dream title with YEMI was amazing.”

To donate to the fundraiser set up for Macy, go to: www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-macy-to-texas.