Haiti earthquake fundraising hero Charlie Simpson meets Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown.
Photo: UNICEF UK/2009/Nunn.
Seven-year-old Charlie Simpson has raised over £210,000 for
UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal – and his incredible fundraising heroics have drawn praise from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and X Factor judge Simon Cowell.
After being moved to tears by the images on TV of the
devastating Haiti earthquake of 12 January, young Charlie pledged to raise £500 for UNICEF by cycling five miles around his local park in Fulham in London, on 24 January.
Charlie’s inspiring efforts were picked up by local radio and newspapers and his heart-warming story quickly spread,
flooding his Just Giving page with online donations and ensuring he smashed his target before he’d even started his ride.
This week Charlie cycled down Downing Street after being
invited to Number 10 by Gordon Brown, who described his fundraising efforts as “truly inspirational and a shining example of the kind of friendship, goodness and compassion so often shown by British people."
Charlie said: “It was very fun going to the Prime Minister’s house and meeting Sarah Brown.
I cycled my bike down Downing Street and even a bit inside! I liked talking to the boys about riding our bikes."
Simon Cowell was among other high profile public figures who got to meet Charlie this week to congratulate him on successfully completing his sponsored cycle on Sunday.
The X Factor judge pledged £5,000 in sponsorship after Charlie visited his offices on Monday.
Cowell said: "I think it's
great that children like Charlie can stand up and make a difference and quite frankly put the rest of us to shame.
“
Everyone should get involved by donating to the Haiti appeal, no matter how small the pledge."
Money raised by Charlie and other fundraisers for UNICEF is
helping to deliver life-saving medicines and food to children in Haiti, including eight planeloads filled with essential supplies such as tents, sanitation and health and nutrition supplies.
In the capital Port au Prince,
UNICEF is now reaching 186,000 people daily with clean drinking water, and, working with the Ministry of Health, will start immunising 600,000 children under the age of five against measles, tetanus and diphtheria.
If you’ve been inspired by Charlie’s efforts and want to raise money
UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal then check out the links below and to the right of the page for fundraising ideas and tips.
Find out more: