Harley uses his business mind to raise funds for St Nicholas Hospice Care

A business-minded 10-year-old’s generous gesture has led to a funding boost for the charity which cared for his dad.

Harley Brinkley, who attends Barnham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, proved he has first rate business sense when he took part in his schools £5 challenge.

Having been given a £5 note Harley, along with his classmates was given the challenge of turning it into as much as he could, which resulted in a £100.80 donation to St Nicholas Hospice Care.

To help him raise the funds, Harley, decided he would raffle squares, with each been sold for £1, and he had three weeks and 200 squares to sell.

With the person who picked the winning square receiving half of the prize money £100, Harley was allowed to keep the remaining profit as a prize, but instead he decided to donate it to the hospice.

Harley said: “It was a lot of fun. When I first said my idea people said I wouldn’t raise any money but I did the most in the class. I sold all of the tickets, De Jay my brother said he would buy the last ones, but I had already sold them.

“I really enjoyed it and raising money was good too. The hospice needs £11,000 a day to be able to help people.”

Harley decided to donate his winnings to the hospice, which cares for those across West Suffolk and Thetford with long-term and life-limiting illness, because they looked after his dad Darren before he passed away after battling cancer eight-years-ago.

Harley’s mum Kelly Brinkley said: “I am very proud of Harley, we all are. He did so well and I was so proud when he said he wanted to give the money to the hospice.

“Darren spent his last 30 hours in the care of the hospice, and I just can’t praise the care he received enough. The nurses were brilliant and afterwards we were really supported as a family, with Georgia (Harley’s sister) and Harley both receiving support from the hospice’s Nicky’s Way.”

The funds raised by Harley will help support the charity as it continues to care for and support those across West Suffolk and Thetford.

Its Nicky’s Way programme allows bereaved children and young people to meet others in the same situation so they can start to feel less lonely and isolated.

It is a six-week programme, with small groups each of no more than six youngsters of a similar age, where children have the chance to share their worries, fears, hopes and feelings and ask questions alongside others in the same situation.

It is open to any youngster who lives in West Suffolk of Thetford who has been bereaved, whether connected to the Hospice or not.

To find out more about the hospice visit www.stnicholashospicecare.org.uk