Harrison Garratt is eight years old and is a keen footballer, playing in Stoke City’s Academy team. His parents, Will and Hayley, are nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and have been working exceptionally hard in recent weeks caring for patients during this difficult time. Harrison was inspired by his parents to hold a special fundraising event.

Last month Harrison cycled 43 miles, alongside his dad, which is the distance from his home to the Stoke City FC training ground where he plays. After he completed his epic bike ride he then tested his dad’s footballing skills by playing in the back garden until Will managed to score 100 goals past his son!

Will is a Neuro Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and during the COVID-19 outbreak has been working hard to deliver the best care possible to patients across the hospital.

Speaking of his son’s fundraising Will said:

Between Hayley and I we have been working alternate shifts to help with the recent pandemic. Harrison asked if he can play his own part, and wanted to help people with COVID-19. He’s been on trial at Stoke’s Academy since before Christmas and he’s missed this dearly during the lockdown so together we came up with the idea to turn football into fundraising.

Harrison and Will’s fundraising are going to University Hospitals Birmingham Charity to help them to provide more for the NHS Superheroes at the hospital.

University Hospitals Birmingham Charity has been helping to fund tables for patients across the hospital, as during the pandemic patients cannot receive visitors to the hospital.

Harrison has smashed his initial target of £100 and is currently on £1,400!

Cathryn Worth, Fundraising Manager at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said:

On behalf of everyone at the hospital I would like to thank Harrison for his incredible fundraising efforts! The money that he has raised will help us to do so much to support our patients and the NHS Superheroes who are treating them at this tough time. Alongside the tablets, we’ve also been funding radios and activity packs for our patients, and funding staff welfare hubs full of supplies and for our incredible NHS staff.

To donate to support Harrison and Will’s fundraising visit:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/HarriSaves

Image credit: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity

The Rooftop provides a daily dose of positive news.

It’s funded by Campaign Collective as part of its positive social impact.