Generous young fund-raiser stepping up to help other children

Eight-year-old Aisla-Mae decided she wanted to do something to help her fellow young people, after seeing one of her friends was finding the current situation with Covid-19 restrictions difficult.

As she is usually extremely active, and particularly enjoys dancing, she decided to set herself the physical challenge of getting her trainers on to complete a certain distance each day.

So far, her efforts have brought in more than £750 and her proud mum Leanne says she is enjoying it so much that some days she is doing as much as six miles.

Leanne, 35, said: “She completely decided on this herself. Her friend was a bit upset with lockdown and she wanted to help other children.

“I work at St George’s Primary School in Atherton and spoke to my headteacher and she said another teacher there worked for Wigan and Leigh Young Carers.

“Aisla-Mae has been going to school throughout lockdown so she’s not been seeing some of her friends. She knows what it’s like to be away from everyone.

“She was reading about the young carers and couldn’t believe children of her age could be carers for an older person.

“She’s very grateful for what she’s got.

“She’s doing really well, she’s really passionate about it. She’s made up every time she gets another donation.”

Aisla-Mae has already smashed her initial fund-raising target of £200.

On her fund-raising page she explained how she had learned about children’s mental health at school and her love of helping other people and being kind.

She has been doing her daily walks at a variety of locations near her home, including Pennington Flash, Haigh Hall and the canal towpath.

She has been walking for more than a week now and if she succeeds in tackling a route of at least two miles until the last day of March will have clocked up more than 100 miles in total.

Aisla-Mae is also a keen dancer who enjoys going to classes at Apple Dance in Leigh.

To find out more about her challenge or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/aisla-maes-fundraiser-walk

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