A teenager who was inspired to become a nurse after witnessing the care given to her seriously ill sister has been awarded a bursary to study nursing at university.

Ruby McEvoy’s sister Elisa died in January 2023 following years of treatment for health complications, including breathing difficulties, which were caused by her cerebral palsy.

The Brockenhurst College student first decided to follow nursing as a career aged 11, having been motivated by the knowledge, compassion and empathy shown by nurses treating her sibling.

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She received three distinction-star grades - the highest possible - for her Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care on results day last week.

Now, she has become the first vocational student to receive the college's Greenwood Bursary and will be going to Swansea University to study a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Adult Nursing.

She said: “When Elisa went into hospital for her treatments, I used to watch the nurses and think about how heroic they were – I thought, I want to be like that.

“Now I’m 18 I still feel the same way – their compassion, their empathy, their knowledge, they are just magnificent."

Bursary founders John and Marion Greenwood established the Brockenhurst College Greenwood Bursary in 2019.

They were so moved by Ruby's story and impressed by her predicted grades and determination that they chose her to be their 2023 beneficiary.

Ruby continued: "Mr and Mrs Greenwood have given me the opportunity to follow my dream of changing people’s lives for the better and making a lasting, positive impact.

“I cannot thank them enough – when they told me I had been successful, it felt like a dream, and I can hardly believe it now.”

Daily Echo: Ruby with her mum and Mr and Mrs Greenwood

Marion Greenwood, from Lyndhurst, said: “Ruby is a very impressive young woman who has already experienced a lot in her life.

“John and I were moved by her story and impressed by her maturity, her college record and the reasoning behind her ambitions.

“She is a credit to her family and Brockenhurst College, and I have no doubt that in the future she will be a credit to her profession as well.”

Brockenhurst College Principal, Helen Odhams, said: “Congratulations to Ruby – we wish her well in her studies and look forward to hearing about her progress."