Seven-Year-Old Appointed “Chief Fun Officer” at Shopping Centre Following Difficult Period

A seven-year-old girl from Plymouth described her experience as “the best day ever” following a challenging period, after she was appointed to the role of “chief fun officer” (CFO) at a shopping centre in the city. Ellie, who resides in Plympton, spent a day at the Drake Circus shopping mall last week. Her official responsibilities encompassed activities such as testing toys, attending the cinema, and creating bath bombs. The mall’s team selected her after she submitted an application, which the team stated “stood out” due to her “fun-loving nature.” Her mother, Corinne, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, commented that the event was a welcome occasion, as Ellie’s activities during the summer holidays had been limited due to her mother’s treatment. Greg Lumley, the centre director for Drake Circus and The Barcode, indicated that choosing a candidate was challenging, but Ellie “stood out as a brilliant choice for us to take on her perfect day at the centre.” He stated: “We’re always looking for ways to enhance our visitor experience, and we’d like to thank Ellie for helping us to do just that ahead of the half-term holidays.” Corinne, a breast cancer patient, mentioned that Ellie had experienced “a really tough time” due to her mother’s treatment. She added: “Even whilst she couldn’t do much over the summer holidays, she never complained.” “It’s been amazing to see her take centre stage and get the attention she deserves at Drake Circus.” She further noted that the final stage of her invasive treatment had concluded, and the “worst part is now behind us.” Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.