Adele Bellis wins Star of Waveney award for fighting back from acid attack
Stars of Lowestoft and Waveney Awards 2015.Overall Star of Lowestoft and Waveney Award.Winner: Adele Bellis.Picture: James Bass - Credit: James Bass
It was a terrible attack which left her disfigured for life.
But the way Adele Bellis has fought back against the horrific acid attack in Pakefield last year has won the hearts of the Lowestoft community – and resulted in her being crowned the Overall Star of Lowestoft and Waveney.
The 23-year-old, who also scooped the Outstanding Bravery Award, has had to undergo continuous treatment since the incident in August last year, which followed an abusive relationship.
The treatment included travelling to a specialist facility in France for several weeks.
While she was undergoing skin graft operations and other treatment, she also had to prepare mentally for the trial of those accused of the attack, who were later found guilty by a jury.
But despite all that her friends and relatives have described how her positive attitude has helped her family to get through the trauma of what happened and build a new life.
The community rallied round to raise money for the Help Adele Fund to pay for her treatment, with some of the money also going to the Katie Piper Foundation – the charity which has helped Miss Bellis with her treatment.
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But despite everything she has been through, Miss Bellis said: 'I want to do what I can to help other people who are in my situation.
'My main focus for the time being is just to get better and get the medical treatment out of the way and along the way try and help people.
'From day one, I have been positive.
'The main thing I had in my head is that he was never going to win. If I keep going, that's me winning.'
Miss Bellis hopes to be able to give talks in schools to warn young people what to do if they find themselves in an abusive relationship – and has not ruled out even training as a nurse to help other attack victims.