Fundraising runs in the family for ten-year-old Lola

Lola, from Worthing raised the money by taking part in a school project.

She wanted to raise money in memory of her grandmother Janet Medcalf, who died last September, and Lola’s contribution takes her family’s fundraising for the past year to £6,715.

Lola is a house captain at English Martyrs Catholic Primary, and was asked to choose a charity for the school’s fundraising efforts. She chose St Barnabas after seeing the way the hospice cared for her beloved Nanny last year.

“I witnessed first-hand how important their work is,” says Lola. “I also saw how supportive and friendly they are and how kind they were to people. It made me want to give something back to say ‘thank you’ for what they did for my Nanny when she needed it most.

“She always had a bright smile on her face whenever she saw the staff – her face just lit up.”

Lola asked the school community to bring in loose change to fill a giant ‘B’ and raised a massive £126.60, all in coins. Impressively, she then decided to do her own individual fundraising and canvassed family and friends to make her own donation of £150, which she presented at St Barnabas House to one of the nurses on duty.

Lola’s fundraising follows the efforts of her great-aunt Lyn Wilson, who organised a Zumba dance fitness event at Worthing Leisure Centre last September while Janet was unwell.

Sadly, Janet’s condition worsened as the event approached and the whole family was with her at St Barnabas House. Lyn left to put on the event and was able to come back later that evening to tell her sister all about it. Janet died the following day.

Only days later, Lyn and her daughter completed the marathon-length South Downs Trek in Janet’s honour. Now, Janet’s granddaughter is continuing their work – proving that fundraising runs in the family.

For more information about St Barnabas House, including how to donate, go to www.stbh.org.uk