Ernie, who lost his mum to breast cancer when he was six, is all set for a second sale after raising £60
An East Yorkshire boy who lost his mum to breast cancer when he was just six years old has been inspired to do some charity fundraising. Ernie, now ten, has seen his gran and other family members pitching in to do their bit for Breast Cancer Now.
Ernie, whose late mum Vicki Marshall died of secondary breast cancer aged 34, decided to take the initiative and do some of his own fundraising towards research into the disease. He took a stall at the Skirlaugh Village Hall table top sale on Sunday (August 31) and offered his unwanted toys, books and DVDs.
He was joined by his friend, Harry, also ten, in running the stall, supported by his gran Julie Wright, who left her career in nursing to help look after Ernie and his older brother, Alfie, after Vicki’s death in 2021. Julie said: “Vicki would be so proud of Ernie.
“His mum had an antiques and collectibles shop in Beverley prior to her passing away and Ernie certainly proved to be a chip off the old block. He haggled prices and raised a whopping £60 for Breast Cancer Now.”
Julie, who raises money and awareness for Breast Cancer Now through running – she is taking part in the Great North Run next Sunday – said people were “so kind” at the sale. Other stallholders who got to know about what Ernie’s endeavours were for donated money to him, without taking any of his wares – with one man offering Ernie some more DVDs for his table, for nothing.
“I think we’ve brought back more than we took,” said Julie, laughing. “I think it was a really good experience for Ernie and Harry.
“It’s lovely to see young people getting involved with charity work at such a young age.” A suitcase of items has been stored away as Ernie has said he wants to do another sale.
Julie, 62, said: “Ernie said he wanted to do something himself for charity, after me taking part in this year’s London Marathon [Julie unfortunately had to pull out at 21 miles when she was unwell] and the subsequent sponsored run/walk with the grandchildren that was planned by Alfie. I said to Ernie, ‘you’ve got to be a bit creative, people don’t just want to see about running all the time’.
“I said to him that Breast Cancer Now was my thing really and I didn’t want that imposing on him and to have a think about another charity if he wanted to. He came back and said he wanted to support Breast Cancer Now because his stepbrother’s grandma had now got breast cancer and he ‘wanted to try and help her now as well’.”
Julie challenged herself with the charity’s Swim 10 Miles in July. “About a week before it, I thought, how far is ten miles in swimming, and it’s 664 lengths.
“I contacted Woodford Leisure Centre in Hull and Hull City Council’s leisure team kindly offered me use of the pool for free for it. I did 11 sessions in total and actually did 10.3 miles in the end.”
The gran said Sunday’s Great North Run will be her fifth in aid of Breast Cancer Now and her ninth overall, having previously raised funds for heart, meningitis and mental health charities. “I’m going to have to do it next year, with it being my tenth,” she said.
“The week after the Great North Run I’m doing the Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike for Macmillan. It’s from Alnwick Castle to Bamburgh Castle.
“I’ve not got a place in London next year so I’m possibly looking at entering the Berlin Marathon instead.”