Doncaster dad Dave helps raise £50,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital

Through his workplace, Home Bargains, area manager Dave has led an effort which has seen colleagues take on sponsored challenges, join charity events and collect donations from numerous stores for The Children’s Hospital Charity.

Dave, from Doncaster, explains: “It’s inspiring to be able to raise much-needed funds from across the region. Even in times like these, people continue to be incredibly generous in donating at our stores.

“For us, fundraising is also a family passion. Both my son Noah and his sister Penny understand that we need to make Theo Bear better (The Children’s Hospital Charity’s mascot).

“Before the pandemic, Penny would often join me in collecting fundraising from our stores and Noah joined me in a sponsored run dressed as Spiderman. As a family, we often say we are part of ‘Team Theo’”.

Dave has also joined his colleagues in taking part in several fundraising events, from obstacle and inflatable courses to festive fun-runs. Last year, 15 Home Bargains team members took part in a sponsored Charity Skydive and he hopes to encourage twice as many to make the jump in 2021.

What made Dave’s determination to fundraise for Sheffield Children’s all the more remarkable was that until recently he had only wanted to fundraise to support others who relied on its care, having understood the importance of the hospital for children across the region.

He had never needed to access any of the services for his own family, but that all changed in October when six-year-old Noah went to feed the squirrels in their back garden.

Dave recalls: “We have three squirrels that regularly would come to visit. Noah dipped into the tub of peanuts and then touched his face and then came out in hives around his eyes. My partner Becky immediately rang our GP.”

Noah attended his local hospital to see an allergy consultant and was then referred to Sheffield Children’s for a skin test, which is where a drop of the suspected allergen is pricked onto the skin. If redness and swelling appears, it indicates an allergy.

Dave continues: “At first, Noah was a bit overwhelmed by it all, he didn’t know what to expect. But they cared for him well and the specialist allergy nurse made sure we were involved in every part of his care, making Noah feel comfortable and at ease.”

Before undergoing his test, Noah was taken to have his weight checked. It was there his dad Dave noticed a donor recognition plaque for the fundraising Home Bargains contributed to The Charity’s ‘Make it Better’ appeal, which saw an award-winning new wing open in 2018.

Dave adds: “To see the donor recognition in the weighing room at Noah’s appointment was really amazing. There was a real sense of emotion to know that we had sponsored a room that was now helping my family and others.

“Since we started fundraising, I have heard so many amazing stories of the work Sheffield Children’s does. It always inspired me to raise as much as we possibly could, and I suppose I have a little one to add to it now.”

Noah has since been diagnosed with peanut, grass and pollen allergies, while the family are awaiting the results of a blood test to determine whether he is allergic to penicillin.

He now has follow-up care, with an emergency action plan in place for his own protection. It requires that his parents carry antihistamine medication and a EpiPen wherever they go.

Dave said: “It has made it even more real for me, you never know when you might need the care at Sheffield Children’s. The determination now is to keep raising as much as we can to help build a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward.”

The Children’s Hospital Charity now have less than ten months remaining to raise the £2.75m required to build a new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. The Charity are appealing for businesses of all sizes to take part in the effort, with sponsorship packages starting at just £5,000.

Sophie Coburn from the c harity added: “We are incredibly grateful to Dave and all the team at Home Bargains, for everything they continue to do to help Sheffield Children’s. Their example has been inspiring during these difficult times. In November, we launched a countdown to funding the new Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s, which treats babies through to 19-year-olds from across the region and even as far south as Northampton. We need your help to make this a reality for them, so please if you can, get in touch and help make a difference.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.