A 10-year-old girl has had her artwork turned into more than 1,000 medals after winning Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s Schools Walk design competition in the event’s 20th year.
Evalyn, a pupil at Shalfleet C of E Primary School, was presented with the first medal featuring her design by Mountbatten Isle of Wight CEO Becky McGregor, just days before Walk the Wight 2026.
Her winning artwork will appear on medals handed to finishers of the Schools Walk at Alum Bay.
Evalyn has said:
“I’m very proud everyone’s going to wear it on the day.”
“I picked a sunflower because people wear them, and the walking poles because lots of people hike up hills.”
Her design features a Mountbatten sunflower as a character holding walking poles, set against colours inspired by the Isle of Wight landscape. It also includes the message ‘Walk the Wight proves we should never give up’.
Evalyn has said:
“I’m very proud everyone’s going to wear it on the day.”
“I picked a sunflower because people wear them, and the walking poles because lots of people hike up hills.”
Her parents, Nick and Sue, were present when she was surprised with the news during a school assembly.
Nick has said:
“I’m beaming with pride.
“I’m bursting at the seams, I really am. We managed to keep it a secret for about 10 days!”
Sue added:
“Evalyn spends hours at the kitchen table, drawing and sketching away. She’s a budding artist.
“We’re really proud of what she wrote on the medal. They’re all her own words. It means a lot and it’s an amazing cause.”
Evalyn, who has previously taken part in the Schools Walk, also shared what the event means to her.
“The worst part is your aching legs, but the best part is feeling like you’ve achieved something and raising money for people.”
Mountbatten Isle of Wight CEO Becky McGregor has said:
“It’s an absolutely amazing achievement. We looked at 300 different entries and Evalyn’s really stood out.
“I particularly loved both the little sunflower character and the quote, which was just brilliant.”
Evalyn’s form tutor, Paula Blackley, has said:
“Evalyn’s amazing and it’s lovely to see her creativity.
“Shalfleet Primary has been involved in the Schools Walk since the beginning so having one of the children design the medal is the pinnacle of it!”
Walk the Wight 2026, sponsored by the Isle of Wight Festival and Red Funnel, takes place on Sunday, 10 May, alongside the Schools Walk and other route options.
Congratulations Evalyn. ‘Never give up.’ A brilliant, inspiring phrase!