A youngster’s unique way of dealing with her older sister’s brain trauma by knitting headbands and scarves to fundraise money for the local hospital has earned her an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year nomination.

Sponsored by TD Canada Trust and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), the junior citizen award recognizes young people across the province, who in the case of nine-year-old Rachel Tilson, are making life better for others by doing more than expected of someone that age.

Rachel was the only nominee for the award in south Muskoka following a nomination by her grandparents, Kurt and Senta Geiser of Bracebridge.

Rachel and her older sister Julia are no strangers to the community after the story of Julia’s battle with a brain trauma in November 2006 made local headlines and the pair became the poster children of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital’s Picture of Health campaign for the CT scanner project at the hospital. As part of the campaign’s launch, Rachel gave a speech to 100 adults and also appeared in local radio commercials.

The CT scanner at SMMH is credited with first discovering Julia’s arteriovenial malformation. Rachel used knitting as a type of therapy for coping with the diagnosis.

She knitted countless headbands that were sold in the community and raised more than $700 for the diagnostic imaging wing at SMMH, knowing how critical it is to have specialty diagnostic equipment like this available at a moment’s notice and following her desire to help other children in similar situations.

Headbands are still for sale at Curves in Gravenhurst where her mother Johanna works.

“I want to thank everyone who bought a headband,” said Rachel in accepting her certificate for the junior citizen award.

Julia, who is not yet able to attend full days at school, undergoes an MRI every three months, but according to her family, is doing well.

With kind hearts both girls continue to give back. Julia donated 10 inches of her hair to the Canadian Cancer Society at Christmastime and the sisters spread awareness about organ donation at school by creating green ribbons in honour of a teacher who underwent a kidney transplant.

Rachel is one of 120 outstanding young people across the province who was nominated for the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year award. The 12 recipients will be announced by OCNA on Feb. 22.