A WOMAN from Malpas will once again run for Miss England and is hoping this year's competition will help springboard her charity work.

Eleanor Farr, who is a photographer by trade reached the finals of Miss England last year and is once again taking part in a similar competition.

As this year's contest is unlikely to physically take place, the competition has become focussed on fundraising, something close to Eleanor's heart.

"This year, I have been working incredibly hard running an online charity store which I set up myself for National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), a charity who made me an ambassador last year, and also for One Woman At A Time," said Eleanor.

"In addition to this, after seeing the struggles Chester Zoo were under, I also added them to my fundraising ventures and have since raised over £1,000 which is to be split between these three charities.

"And the figure is still rising and will continue to rise as long as the donations keep coming in.

"As well as raising money via my shop, I have also been busy collecting donations for Elle For Elle, who supply refuge centres for those fleeing abusive domestic environments with toiletries and cosmetics.

"I’ve lost count of the number of hours I’ve spent driving door to door collecting donations for the women’s refuges and my charity store; but I’ve been pretty grateful for the charities keeping me motivated and giving me a reason to get out of bed each day during lockdown.

"Last year I also raised over £1,500 for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide and around £250 for The Chronicle Sunshine Fund. Prior to that, I had raised around £500 for Versus Arthritis"

Although Eleanor is using Miss Cheshire as a springboard for her charity work, raising money is something she has been passionate about since she was a child.

"Ever since I was a child I have always poured my heart into charity work, starting in primary school where I became a young member of PDSA - Saving Pets, Changing Lives," added Eleanor.

"I would organise sponsored events and collect my money in a tin to help the animals.

"On my mantelpiece at home is a photo of me, aged 10, with a trophy for my work with the PDSA. Aged 25, very little has changed.

"I still look like a child, often still act like a child and still want to help people and animals who are in need."

At age 19 Eleanor was diagnosed with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and the struggles the now 25-year-old faced have spurred her to help people in a similar position.

Eleanor says winning Miss Cheshire could help boost the profile of NRAS.

She added: "I believe I could use the Miss Cheshire title as a platform for my ambassadorship with NRAS to really make a change, particularly so for young people who have been diagnosed with arthritis; just like I was at the age of 19.

"This week alone I have been involved in a group meeting with the charity discussing platforms for reaching out to and supporting children and teens diagnosed with JIA."

For Eleanor, taking part in Miss Cheshire is not just about the charity side of things, but also breaking the mould of the 'typical' beauty pageant contestant.

"Of course my charity work is just one part of what the Miss Cheshire title is about," added Eleanor.

"Taking this out of the equation, I feel that it would be nice for a 'tom boy' who doesn’t wear makeup and who started their own business in spite of a chronic illness can be the right person for young girls to look up to.

"Last year I was the first person to walk down the Miss England catwalk with a bionic hip and made the news for wearing bright red Doc Martens instead of high heels.

"Pageantry has a lot of connotations associated with it and I feel I break that mould – which I hope is a good thing.

"I think it’s so important to be yourself and not conform to what’s expected of you and one thing I am proud to say is that I am 100 per cent me."

To donate to Eleanor's fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Eleanor-Farr