‘Fantastic four’ schoolboys raise £700 with Penny for the Guy for Zoe’s Place

Four schoolboys from Croxteth Park have raised a staggering £700 for Zoe’s Place after collecting a ‘Penny for the Guy’ in aid of the children’s hospice.

Brothers Lucas and Theo Rollinson, and Nathan and Joshua McCarthy braved horrendous weather to spend four hours outside shops in Langley Close near their home after school last Tuesday and Friday to help raise funds for Zoe’s Place.

Lucas and Theo’s mum, Jaime McNicoll, said:

“It was absolutely freezing and raining, especially on Friday, but the boys were determined to stay out and raise money for Zoe’s Place.

“They were calling out ‘Penny for Zoe’s Place’ and asking everyone who went past to donate.”

Care worker Jaime added: “They raised £273 on the Tuesday and really wanted to go back out so they could try and make it to £500.

“They are delighted they’ve actually raised £700 and they’re so proud of what they’ve done – but not half as proud as me and Nathan and Joshua’s mum Nicola are of them.

“My nan Grace is in her 90s and has always raised money and donated to Zoe’s Place, and she gave them £50 for all their good work. She’s proud her boys are taking after her!”

The boys are all pupils at Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School in Fir Tree Drive South.

Lucas and Nathan are 10, and Theo and Joshua are both five.

Jaime explained how the boys wanted to raise money for Zoe’s Place, which is trying to raise £5 million in 30 days to stave off closure before Christmas.

Founded in 1995, it’s one of only three hospices in the UK which specialises in caring for very young children but the lease on its current site runs out in 2025 and plans to build a new hospice close by have fallen through due to delays in securing planning permission and rising costs within the construction industry.

The city is rallying round to support Zoe’s Place and raise the money to save it: “And it’s great that that’s people of all ages from the city,” said Jaime.

“I showed my boys stories of people raising money and they straight away said they wanted to help, and Nicola agreed her two would love to help too.

“They understand it’s a place where very young children go to when they’re really poorly and are cared for and supported, and that it’s in danger of closing down. As young as they are, they wanted to do what they could so that doesn’t happen.”

The boys came up with doing Penny for the Guy and spent hours making their creepy characters.

Mum Jaime went on:

“Me and Nicola stood with them when they were raising the money and we were really moved by people’s comments for them, praising them for what they were doing at such young ages and saying how me and Nicola should be so proud.

“It made me feel good – and it they had me in tears!

“It shows that it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can always do your bit to help when it’s needed; and they used time when they’d normally be playing out with their friends or playing on their games to do something positive.

“The boys are among all those people in Liverpool who are coming together and it’s amazing to see how everyone’s reacted for Zoe’s Place – and especially our fantastic four!”