Deborah Mcelhinney

Deborah s a teacher in Broadbridge Primary School, Eglinton on the outskirts of Derry. She has been teaching for almost twenty years and during that time has been a perfect role model both for her pupils and peers. Deborah has somehow been able to combine a hectic family life with her school duties and much more besides. Deborah has been and continues to be the person that we as a school community all look up to in terms of leading by example and providing opportunities for all to improve their lifestyle in a way that the Olympic movement would be proud.

In the past few years Deborah has given her all to the athletics and cross country teams within the school as well as promoting a healthy living and lifestyle club that includes 'Walk to School'weeks and 'Healthy Breakfasts' in the school canteen.

Every lunchtime, come hail, rain or snow ( very seldom sun in our part of the world) Deborah forgoes her sandwich and coffee to encourage the pupils to go that extra few yards and be the best that they can be. Despite the school's relatively small intake of less than 400 pupils, her positive attitude and constant encouragement enabled the girls' team to win the Northern Ireland Cross Country Championship that were held recently in Armagh. For a small school this was a most remarkable achievement and a testament to the unstinting dedication of a quite remarkable and selfless individual. In my opinion their would be no more worthy bearer than Deborah.