Wigan schoolgirl gets creative to raise money for charity in honour of her sister

Seven-year-old Grace Stockton-Beesley wanted to make a difference after her sister Isabella, who is now two, had a liver transplant at the end of 2019. She had complete liver failure and fighting for her life, but is now doing well thanks to the new organ.

The girls’ parents Sarah and Dean, as well as the rest of their family, have been raising money for good causes to show their gratitude for the help Isabella received.

And Grace decided to join in, returning home from school one day saying she wanted to raise money for children who would have nothing at Christmas.

Dean, who is originally from Hindley and now lives in Newton, said: “She designed this badge on my iPad and I printed it off and sold them for her.”

The badge features a Christmas tree and the message: “Stay safe at Christmas time”. Grace and Dean sold the badges for £2 each and managed to raise a total of £235 for Cash For Kids, which supports disadvantaged children.

They went to the charity’s office in Stockport to hand over the cheque.

Dean said: “I’m really proud of her. Just to do it off her own back like that is really good. She was consciously thinking about it.

“Since what happened to our youngest daughter, it’s made us more aware. We have done fund-raising for Ronald McDonald House, for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and we did this for Cash For Kids.”

The family has so far raised more than £2,000 for Ronald McDonald House, which supported them when Isabella was unwell, and just over £600 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where she was treated by specialists.

They collected many donations from friends and relatives and organised raffles.

They also planned to hold a fun day, which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but money raised in ticket sales still went to the appeal.

Dean and Sarah both work for Wigan Council and when Sarah’s team won an award which included £400 prize money, they decided to donate that to the appeal.

Equilibrium, the firm where Sarah’s sister works, also donated £800 as part of its charity work.

It is hoped many children will benefit from the money raised, in the same way that Isabella and the Stockton-Beesley family have been helped.

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