Emily Clark

Emily has been the kindest friend to me, she has been a dedicated doctor and only what I can describe as a force of strength and goodness. I first met her at University, and from there on I got to know an extraordinary soul - a humanitarian. Emily's stories of travel and philanthropy are inspiring. On her first ventures to Africa she tragically lost a fellow comrade. She used this adversity, the pain and the memories to build! It made her stronger; she has she returned to Ghana as often as possible, to that same community they have been helping for years, getting involved in manual labour and construction of infrastructure such as a school and a clinic. She also co-founded the John-John Trust, a charitable organisation in memory of her loving friend who lost his life helping others. The stories are endless, on another excursion to Belize as a young trainee doctor, she became a pivotal member of the local community she was treating - she loved the people and they loved her. Her passion for improving people's lives is reflected in the endless efforts she made - to successfully get a group of american surgeons to operate on one of her young patients. The little one was born with cleft palate and was facing the danger of being ostracised by its own community due to the deformity. I have come to realise that some people just have it, they can see above and beyond where the rest of us are looking and in that find a purpose strong enough to drive them to achieve for others.