At the age of just 15, Rebecca Masri and a friend organised a play to raise funds for a bed for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital.

It would prove to be just the beginning of the 32-year-old’s philanthropy and fundraising which has seen her appointed MBE for services to charity.

Miss Masri, who attended St Paul’s Primary School, in Hammersmith, and now lives in Marylebone, went on to work through charity network Afikim, which helped provide funding for almost 150 children in a small Israeli town who would otherwise be homeless.

Later she set up the Tree of Life, a non-profit foundation setup to support selected charities.

She also uses her experience to benefit other charities, such as assisting with the Pink Ribbon Ball for the Breast Cancer Campaign in October 2013.

In recognition of the impact she has had, she was invited by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, to join the development board for the Legacy List, the Queen Elizabeth Park charity.

She was thrilled with the gong, and speaking from a conference in Miami, said: “I’m over the moon.

"I’m very happy to receive this and glad to be recognised.

"I hope this will help me with my work to raise money.”