An inspirational teenager who died suddenly has been nominated for a Pride in Medway award.

Safiya Stewart, 18, a student at MidKent College, was found unconscious at her home on St Mary’s Island in May this year after an epileptic seizure.

The posthumous nomination has come from Labour councillor Pat Cooper, who met Safiya at a culture and heritage event at the Command House, in Dock Road, Chatham.

She said: “Safiya was an inspiration to young people in Medway. She started up Young People United (YPU) as a branch of the Medway African Caribbean Association (MACA), and the Urban Steps dance group.

“She only found out about her epilepsy when she was 16, but had so much drive. She wanted to move forward, she was training to be a chef and she was looking forward to all the things she would do.

“She was very proud of her heritage and she inspired me to also get more involved in the Love Music Hate Racism events – I was at one on Saturday in the boiling heat – as well as various cultural events, including celebrating the 30th anniversary of MACA, of which I’m now a committee member.

“Her funeral was extremely uplifting and I want to make sure she is recognised for everything she achieved.” Safiya’s family were left shocked and distraught after her death, but marked her passing with a celebration of her life at the St George’s Centre, Chatham Maritime.

Singer and family friend Beverly Knight was among those attending.

Safiya was hard working, with part-time jobs at Sainsbury’s and McLeod’s Restaurant at her college and just before her death had also secured another job.

She organised community events through YPU and loved to spend what little spare time she had dancing with her troupe.

A Just Giving page was set up in her memory to try and raise funds to keep the YPU going and so far £1,600 has been collected.

Mum Carol, chairman of MACA, said: “We are going to have a chat with all the youths on what exactly they want to spend this money on.

“There is talk of bringing back a Saturday school type set-up to help support the young people, as well as restarting Safiya’s dance group.”