AN 'amazing' Lowestoft teenager has shown she certainly has the Christmas spirit after she raised �100 to help people less well off by singing carols and donating some of her wages.
Megan Soanes, 15, of Culzean Gardens, raised the money for the town's Salvation Army by spending two weeks carol singing in the town.
She also donated �15 she made from delivering the Journal's free sister paper the Waveney Advertiser.
The Benjamin Britten High School student knocked on 700 doors and then performed two carols, Away in a Manager and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, to people who wished to hear her sing.
Half the money she raised will be used by the Salvation Army to help fund its Christmas Alone event, which provides a festive meal and entertainment for lonely and homeless people in Lowestoft, while the other half will be sent by the Salvation Army to help projects in Africa.
On Tuesday, Megan handed over the money to Major Barry Willson at the Salvation Army citadel in Beach Road.
Megan told the Journal she had decided to raise the money after watching a TV programme on poverty in Africa. Her mother, Sharon Northwood, is a volunteer at the Salvation Army and suggested to Megan that it was the perfect charity to present the money to.
Megan said: 'When I saw the people living in Africa it really got to me and made me think I had to do something.
'I knocked on about 700 houses at random. I did not feel nervous singing carols as I have done it before. I set myself a target of �50 from carol singing but raised �85.'
Mrs Northwood, 37, said: 'I am really, really proud of her.'
Mr Willson said some of the money would be used to buy food, including turkey and puddings, for the Christmas Day event at the citadel which will cater for up to 150 people.
He said: 'It is just amazing to think what Megan has done. She is a young lady who has thought of others at Christmas time instead of herself.'
Megan said she planned to go charity carol signing again next year and she may be joined by her 18-year-old brother Adam Northwood.
The Salvation Army needs entertainers for the Christmas Day event. Anyone interested should call Majors Barry or Cindy Willson on 01502 539118.
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