At the age of only 17, Cassandra Levesque began researching the issue of child marriage as part of a project for a Gold Award at the girl scouts. She subsequently started speaking to local state representatives and began a campaign to end child marriage in New Hampshire. After the campaign was unsuccessful and whilst still at college Cassandra ran for the State Legislature where she was successful. Her achievement was seen as particularly significant due to the fact that (as of 2015) the average age in the New Hampshire State Legislature was 66, making it the oldest state legislature in the country – 19