Boys’ penalty shootout raises thousands to help friend

Three boys from Rotherham spent more than three hours taking 1,000 sponsored penalties to raise money for the Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Ten-year-olds Isaac Williams, Zack Jones and Samuel James raised £2,285 to say thank you to the hospital where their friend, eight-year-old Jude Hawkridge, is undergoing treatment for leukaemia.

Jude even joined in, from a safe social distance, to take the final 10 spot-kicks.

Isaac’s mother Angela said: “We were devastated to learn that Jude had been diagnosed with leukaemia. We are really good friends with the family and our children are the same age, so it really resonated with us.

“We know what fantastic care Jude has received from the hospital and we wanted to do all we could to support him and Sheffield Children’s.”

The money raised will support The Children’s Hospital Charity’s ongoing appeal to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The redevelopment will expand the ward, with more space for treatment and to play with a separate adolescent area. The transformation will also create additional bed space, complete with single bedrooms and en-suite facilities to give children a place to make their own and space for a parent to sleep comfortably beside them.

Zack’s mother Lisa added: “I am proud of all three boys for being so enthusiastic for this challenge 
and for raising so much money in honour of Jude. There’s no doubt 
the money raised spurred them
on to achieve their goal on 
Saturday.”

Samuel’s mother Rachael echoed those sentiments, adding: “I am incredibly proud of Samuel and his friends for raising so much. All three of them, like Jude, love their football, so they couldn’t have found a more fitting challenge!”

Jude’s mother Jo expressed her gratitude on behalf of her family.

“We’d like to say a really big thank you. The money you all raised was amazing and you should all be very proud of yourselves. We certainly are,” she said.

To support the appeal to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s for generations to come, visit: www.tchc.org.uk