Write a commentLocal teenager Anita Dennison is one of five people shortlisted in the Overcoming Adversity category for the 2015 Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards with Specsavers which take place on Friday coming 12th of June.
Showing immense levels of courage and resilience, Anita decided to reveal that she had been targeted by a malicious group of cyber-bullies. Hiding behind their screens, for a whole year the bullies anonymously directed abuse at the then 16 year old who was already coping with the stresses of sitting her GCSEs.
When the bullying was eventually brought to a halt, Anita felt determined to use her horrific experience in the hope of helping others and established herself as a leading anti-bullying campaigner.
Using the very same social media outlets her bullies had used to hurt her, Anita created an online presence to provide support and guidance to others experiencing similar treatment and wants to show how the internet can be used in a positive way.
The Bessbrook girl, who is now completing her A levels, also played a key role in the development of a zero-tolerance approach to bullying of any form in her school and local community. She continues to inspire young people to treat their peers with compassion and respect and is relieved that something positive has come out of such a dreadful chapter of her teenage years.
Speaking of the awards, Specsavers Northern Ireland Chairman, Brian O’Kane said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards for the fifth consecutive year and continue to be overwhelmed by the heroic tales of each of the finalists. This year we were inundated with nominations so it was a particularly difficult task to shortlist just 15. I’m looking forward to meeting the finalists at the gala final on June 12 and celebrating their achievements.”
All 15 nominees along with their family and friends are invited to the gala final at the exclusive five star Culloden Hotel on June 12 where they will be treated to a first class evening of food and entertainment. UTV will be recording all of the action from the evening for a special TV programme presented by Pamela Ballentine and Frank Mitchell who will also be hosting the event. Taking to the stage as entertainment for the evening will be Louis Walsh’s hot new boyband Hometown who are tipped to be the next big thing and comic John Linehan, aka May McFettridge.
Winners in the three categories, chosen by an esteemed judging panel headed by TV star Louis Walsh, will be revealed on the night along with the overall Spirit of Northern Ireland winner who will walk away with a £1,000 cash prize from Northern Ireland’s fastest growing care recruitment and domiciliary agency, Peninsula Care Services.
