Cambridge teen Isabel Maranhao raises $1.3m for sick Brazilian children after feeling 'powerless to help'

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A teenager who dreams of saving lives as a doctor raised $1.3 million for sick Brazilian children because she did not like the feeling of being powerless to help.

Cambridge sixth former Isabel Maranhao was struck by the story of Arthur, a little Brazilian boy with cerebral palsy whose family needed 2,000 to pay for medical treatment aboard.

The Netherhall student, who is from Brazil, turned to Facebook in April last year to ask for donations and within five months was funding treatment and related costs for 16 poorly children totalling 50,000.

Her charity A Click of Hope was given an incredible boost of $1 million after she gave a presentation on Christmas Day to one of Brazils biggest online news websites, who are sponsoring her campaign.

The 19-year-old, who is also launching a book project for Kenyan children and wants to go to medical school at Harvard University, is running her charity while studying for five A-levels maths, further maths, chemistry, physics and biology.

She started raising money for sick children because she felt useless because she is not yet qualified to practice.

She said: Well I saw the news and I felt really powerless about it and I didnt like that feeling. I want to be a doctor but until then this is the way I can help.

I spend about two hours a day on my charity and its a really weird balance that I have with my A-levels. I do not have much free time and Im always very busy but I like it that way.

I didnt expect it to get this big. I thought I was just going to help Arthur, but when someone comes to you for help you cant really say no.

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Cambridge teen Isabel Maranhao raises $1.3m for sick Brazilian children after feeling 'powerless to help'