Five-year-old Fraser Queally plans to raise money for the hospice that cared for his grandmother, by cycling around Brooklands Park on Easter Sunday.
Fraser, who goes to Lyndhurst Infant School, will cycle laps of the lake at the park raising money for St Barnabas, the hospice that cared for his beloved Nanny, Linda.
His fundraising now stands at £700 after his family initially set a target of £100. Community support, including King Pizza in Salvington Road where customers have donated their change, has helped Fraser surpass his goal.
Linda Pritchard, who lived in central Worthing, was very close to all four of her grandchildren:
“She was your typical nanny, buying them treats and sweets,” says Fraser’s mum, Claire. “She would do anything for all her grandchildren.”
Linda died in October after a short illness, which came as a shock to all the family – her death came only four weeks after a diagnosis of bone cancer.
“Fraser was absolutely heartbroken,” says his mum, Claire Holden.
“We didn't expect him to understand as well as he did. Soon afterwards, he said: “Mummy, I want to do something for the people that looked after Nanny.”
Fraser came up with the idea of cycling in Brooklands Park and his family says he chose Easter Sunday because he’d have lots of energy from all the chocolate he’s planning to eat that day.
“It’s quite funny, because we’ll obviously be cycling with him,” says Claire.
“Winter, Fraser’s dad, suggested that we all wear St Barnabas t-shirts and Fraser said ‘No! It’s MY sponsored cycle!’ Having something to work towards has helped him to process his grief. Sometimes he looks up and asks if we think Nanny would be proud.”
Fraser though has struggled to comprehend how much he has raised.
“We’ve tried to explain it by reminding him of the electric bed that Linda had at home,” says Claire.
“When he first visited Linda, she really wasn’t doing very well, and he was a bit afraid. But when we went round a few days later, he was sitting with her in the lounge when we heard them howling with laughter. They were having the best fun with that electric bed. We’ve told him that the money he has raised might buy a bed for St Barnabas – and maybe another grandson can spend time with his Nanny there.”
If you’d like to support Fraser with his fundraising, the family has invited people to join them at Brooklands from 12.30 on March 31.
You can also donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-holden-1707311346276
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