A KIND-HEARTED schoolgirl has organised two fundraisers for Meadow House Hospice after learning her grandfather was terminally ill.
Jessica Marsh, eight, of Cawdor Crescent in Hanwell, sold a shell collection she had gathered on her Portugese summer holiday, and then organised a sponsored walk and wheelie around her school, St Joseph's RC primary in Hanwell.
The shell sale raised £40 and the sponsored walk over £1,000 so far, with money still coming in.
She has just been nominated for an Ealing Gazette Pride in Our People Award by her godmother, Ann Ryan, who said: "I know it was not a large sum for the shells, but she showed such initiative. For such a young person to think of that was amazing. She then approached the school for this sponsored event so from something big has come from something small. Jessica has also raised awareness about Meadow House hospice and I know her grandad was delighted."
Jessica said: "Mum was talking about Meadow House hospice and I asked her what it was and she said it was a place for dying people. When I heard grandad wasn't very well I wanted to do something for them. I collected the shells on holiday and started painting them. Whenever anyone came to the house they wanted to see them so I asked if they wanted to buy them, which they did.
"Then I went into Meadow House to give them the money and they were very pleased. They said they were very impressed with me and very surprised that an eight-year-old could do something like this. Grandad is very proud of me."
Jessica's mum, Sheona, a community nurse on the borough's Twilight Service, which is also used by the hospice, said the whole family were touched and impressed by her daughter's actions.
She said: "Jessica's grandad was diagnosed with terminal cancer when we got back from holiday. She understands what that means, so she decided to sell her shells and set up shop in her bedroom. We didn't realise at first people were buying them. People were asking her to personalise them with different themes like love and peace. She's quite grown up for her age. Once she has an idea in her head she goes for it.
"As her grandad had used the services at Meadow House Jessica wanted to give something back. About 80 people took part in the sponsored walk and that has already raised £1,478 but there is more to come. Jessica said to me:'I have never seen so much money.'"
She added Jessica would be very surprised to find she had been nominated.
