Donations pour in as Wigan schoolgirl sells handmade ribbons for Cancer Research UK
A caring Wigan schoolgirl selling handmade cancer awareness ribbons has been stunned by the response to her charity appeal.
Eight-year-old Olive Richardson suggested people make a £1 donation for her macramé ribbons, with the money raised going to Cancer Research UK.
But she has been amazed by the interest in her project, which raised more than £1,100 in just a few days and continues to rise.
Olive is a member of the 4th Wigan Brownies, based at St Mary and St John Primary School on Standishgate, and started fund-raising as she worked towards the charity badge.
Mum Rachel Richardson, from Springfield, said: “There’s a charity badge in the Brownies so the girls are doing different things.
"I make macramé and she always makes little gifts, like bookmarks, badges and key chains, so it was it something she could do that was quick and simple.
"There’s a lot of talk of cancer and she was asking questions about cancer research and decided to do different colour ribbons for different cancers.”
Olive, a pupil at St Mary and St John, hoped to raise £100 for Cancer Research UK.
But her fund-raising quickly passed that, as people donated more than £1 for a ribbon or gave money but did not take a ribbon so it could be sold again.
Rachel said: “I think people resonate with children when they do things like this.
"School shared her fund-raising page and her teachers have supported her and donated and spread it across school.”
So far Olive has made 120 ribbons and there is so much demand for them that she will continue making them through the February half-term and beyond.
She has been excitedly checking the website to see how much money has been given, with Rachel’s phone alerting her every time a donation is made.
Rachel said: “I was in tears every time it goes off and I see all the lovely messages.
“I am so proud of her. She wants to make them – I am helping her, because there’s a hot glue gun involved, but she is enjoying making them. She is really good.”
To buy a ribbon and donate to Olive’s appeal, go to fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/olives-macrame-ribbon-fundraiser.