Little boys raise £700 for NHS with a Waltham litter pick

Oliver Hill (7) and his four-year-old brother, Toby, walked nearly 5km bagging up rubbish, having been inspired by 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore who recently generated £30million for health workers by doing laps of his garden with a mobility walker.

Oliver has taken part for the last two years in the children’s Race for Life Cancer Research UK fundraiser in memory of his grandmother, Lesley Hill, who passed away from the disease, but it was cancelled this year becaue of the coronavirus pandemic so he thought about doing another charity challenge.

Mum Gemma told the Melton Times: “Oliver and Toby were both really inspired by Captain Tom and wanted to do something different this year to raise money for charity.

“Another passion for Oliver is trying to save the environment and he always comments on the amount of litter he sees on his walk to school.

“So he asked if he and his brother could do a charity litter pick around Waltham for the NHS and of course we said yes.”

Gemma and her partner, Lauren, the boys’ other mother, set up an online fundraising page with a target to raise £100.

“They got to £100 within the hour and Oliver and Toby were jumping around the house at this,” said Gemma.

“Armed with litter pickers they did the litter pick last Friday around the village and in total walked 4.8km, which for Toby’s little legs was pretty impressive.

“Cars were beeping at them and some lorries were also.

“Friends of the boys came out and said hello and waved at them on the way round.

“They have now raised a huge £700 and their mummys are very proud.”

Go online at www.gofundme.com/f/v4kr8s-a-cause-i-care-about-needs-help if you would like to add money to the boys’ sponsorship fund.