Elderslie schoolgirl fighting to raise awareness of rare diseases wins Young Scotswoman of the Year

“I like doing charity work because I’m helping to keep my brother’s memory alive by helping others,” she said. “I want to find a cure for the condition that took my brother, so that no-one else has to go through what I did.”

Mariya has helped raise more than £16,500 for Another Star in the Sky, set up by her parents in association with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, following the death of her brother Ahmar.

The 12-year-old from Elderslie is also a young ambassador for the Miracle Foundation, a Motherwell-based charity which supports young people who have suffered bereavement and trauma.

“I want to make my big brother proud of me,” she said. “I hope being Young SWOTY 2021 will help to raise awareness of Another Star in the Sky and the need for more research into rare conditions, and the need for child bereavement services.”

Mariya’s mum Sameena said: “I’m so proud of Mariya – I just wish it could have been in different circumstances.

“She had to grow up very fast when her brother died but she has handled it so well. I can’t believe she has won Young Scotswoman of the Year – it’s a real honour.”

While Covid restrictions prevented SWOTY from going ahead in its usual format, the presentation was still an enjoyable affair, with finalists getting the chance to meet each other for the first time to share stories and support.

Mariya, from Elderslie, was nominated alongside Abby Lang, Meghan Porterfield and Tess Corcoran. Unfortunately, heart screening campaigner Abby, who is a medical student in Dundee, was unable to attend.

Meghan, 17, a multi-awardwinning field athlete who already has a clutch of medals and records under her belt, said: “I’m really excited to be here – it’s a real honour to be invited. I couldn’t believe it when my headteacher told me I had been shortlisted.”

Meghan’s mum Mhairi said: “I’m so proud of her – she doesn’t think she is doing anything special, but everyone who knows her, knows she is. It’s great to be here – all the finalists are fantastic.”

Tess said: “This is really exciting, and to be invited to be part of something like SWOTY does make you reflect on what you have done and feel proud, and that’s really nice. It has been great to talk to the other finalists, and to hear their passion for the causes they believe in. Awards like these show young people they have the ability to stand up for something they believe in and the power to make change happen.”

Maureen Potter, the environmental activist who helped saved a vital peatbog at the forefront of climate change, was crowned 59th Glasgow Times Scotswoman of the Year.

In addition to spearheading the fundraising and awareness campaign that saved Langlands Moss, Maureen persuaded eminent geologist and TV presenter Professor Iain Stewart to become the group’s patron.

Iain said: “For Langlands Moss in East Kilbride, the extraordinary single-minded devotion of Maureen Potter has been critical for protecting and preserving this precious natural space. Maureen started Friends of Langlands Moss back when peat bogs were maligned and neglected, but they are now celebrated as essential carbon stores for the nation and the planet.

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“Without Maureen as its champion-in-chief, and her skills in building a dedicated army of volunteers over the last 16 years, Langlands Moss would have long since disappeared into the industrial fringes of East Kilbride.”

Maureen was nominated alongside Witches of Scotland campaigners Claire Mitchell QC and Zoe Venditozzi, adventurer and athlete Karen Darke, education campaigner Sameeha Rehman and world-class violinist Nicola Benedetti. Neither Nicola or Karen could attend the event due to other commitments.

Zoe said: “It’s really exciting to be here – just to have been shortlisted for Scotswoman of the Year is enough for me, it’s fantastic to be part of this group of really interesting women, doing really cool things.

“It’s great to celebrate people who are doing good, through choice – because they believe in it, because they want to help others.”

Claire added: “It’s brilliant that we are in a room celebrating the brilliant things that women do, which has always been at the heart of our campaign.”

Sameeha said: “It’s really exciting to be part of SWOTY – of all the awards out there, this is the only one that recognises the achievements of women and that’s very important. It’s very special to be part of it.”