Doncaster girl, 8, raises thousands for charity and inspires new book

Chloe Hadley, aged eight, from Stainforth, raised more than £3,500 for the Children’s Air Ambulance, which prompted author Stacey Turner to write a book about the charity to help it further.

Chloe, who attends Travis St Lawrence Church of England Primary School school in Hatfield, said: “I feel really happy that I have raised over £3500 now as it means another child or baby can be saved.

"It was really cool to meet an author, Stacey is very kind. I’m excited to see the book.”

The Children’s Air Ambulance, which receives no government funding, is an inter-hospital transfer service flying critically ill babies and children from one hospital to another for specialist care at no cost to the NHS.

Chloe raised money through the charity’s #TheCrew initiative, which supports children to raise funds in their own way ‘without grown-ups telling them what to do.’

Her mum, Emily Maxfield, said: "Chloe wanted to raise money for something important on her own and when I saw #TheCrew advertised, it seemed the perfect match. As soon as she was signed up, she was eager to get started and had lots of ideas of what she wanted to do.

“It’s amazing to see the invitation and entrepreneurial spirit she has – she makes me very proud.”

Chloe organised a ‘Green day’ at her school which saw pupils pay £1 to wear green as part of her fundraising.

She also made and sold sweet cones, organised a tombola at a local nursing home and sold more than 70 activity packs for other children, which she made herself.

Stacey said: “I was inspired by the Children’s Air Ambulance kids’ club, #TheCrew, which was founded by two nine-year-old girls, now almost 12, who created their own nationwide fundraising club made for children, by children.

"I was chosen to write and manage this children’s book and I chose children who inspired me with their efforts to feature in the book. Chloe features in the book with a clown and it’s based on the circus skills workshop she organised for her school.”

Stacey’s book is called Motorways in the Sky and was illustrated by Claire Spake. You can order it from the Children’s Air Ambulance website.