A Blackburn teenager single-handedly organised a charity football match to help raise money for a children's hospice – where he one day hopes to help care for its families.
Ellis Wignall, 16, has been fundraising for Derian House since attending Darwen Vale High School, where he took part in the school’s yearly sponsored army-style training event.
The event inspired Sam to organise his own fundraising activities, with his second charity match raising £3,000.
Hundreds came to watch the two teams, made up of Ellis’ friends and family, compete against each other at Mill Hill St Peter’s Sports and Social Club in Blackburn on Sunday, August 6.
Ellis waited until he finished his GCSE exams to organise this year’s event and is due to study health and social care at Blackburn College in September, with the goal to one day become a Derian House nurse.
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He said: “I knew I wanted to go into nursing. When I had a tour of Derian House after our school’s yearly fundraising event, it really opened my eyes a lot more. I realised I would love to work there.”
Ellis organised his first charity football match in 2022 and raised more than £2,000 for the charity.
He added: “Raising money for Derian House is important to me.
“It’s local to the community and well-known to a lot of people. Ever since the match last year, my love of the hospice has only grown even more.
“The atmosphere at this year’s match was amazing. You could hear people clapping and see when the crowd were on tenterhooks. I really hope it makes all the difference to the children and families at Derian House.”
Kerry Pritchard, community fundraiser at Derian House, said: “Ellis has done an incredible job doing all this himself – what an inspirational young person. We wish him all the luck in the world in his hopes to become a nurse.
“It will cost us £6m to run services at Derian House in 2023, so we rely heavily on the generosity of our incredible supporters – just like Ellis.”
Based in Chorley, Derian House cares for more than 400 babies, children, and young people and their families across the North West.
To donate to Ellis’ fundraising ventures, click here.
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