Little Ella’s cartwheel challenge raises over £600 in memory of her nan

Wirral youngster Ella Wood has raised £613 for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity in memory of the grandma she never got to know.

Ella, seven, from Bromborough, was only four months old when her ‘Nanny Dot’ died from liver cancer after being diagnosed less than two years before.

But that didn’t stop the kind and caring youngster from setting off on a mission to raise money for the people who had helped and treated her – by doing 50 cartwheels a day for a week at the beginning of this month.

The primary schoolgirl says:

“I never got to spend much time with my nanny before she got poorly, but my mum has told me lots about her and she sounds like an amazing lady who I would have loved to spend every day with.

“That’s what made me want to do this challenge – not just because I love cartwheels, but because I want to raise money and help give back to the people who looked after her when she wasn’t well, as well as every other person with cancer.”

Mum Claire, 29, adds:

“She absolutely loved doing it. All she does is cartwheels and splits everywhere she goes, and she loves gymnastics. She never sits still.

“Ella is a lovely, caring little girl who always looks out for everyone.

“And I’m really proud of her.”

Ella decided to embark on her mission to complete 50 cartwheels each day leading up what would have been her nanny’s 59^th birthday.

Claire, who with husband Paul, 33, also has a son Ronnie, four, explains:

“Ella moved from Rainbows to the Brownies and she was flicking through the Brownie Guidebook at all the badges she could do and she saw the charity one.

“I told her about Clatterbridge Cancer Charity which I had fundraised for, and she asked if Clatterbridge had looked after my mum. When I said yes, she said that was who she was going to raise money for too.

“Ella never really knew my mum because she was a baby when she died, but we talk about her all the time so she knows all about her.”

Nanny, Dot Roberts, was only 52 when she died seven years ago after being diagnosed with liver and bile duct cancer a little under two years previously.

A Liverpool FC fan – ‘even though she was born in Everton’ – Dot suffered from gallstones so when she was admitted to hospital with stomach pain, everyone thought it was something to do with that.

Claire Said:

“But scans revealed it was cancer, She had chemotherapy to treat it and give her more time, but there was nothing they could do. I think she got an extra couple of months after Ella was born because she kept her going!

“Mum would have been so proud of Ella too – and when it came to the cartwheels, she’d have been doing them with her.”

Ella easily conquered her challenge, notching up a staggering 350 cartwheels by the end of the week: “She did them in sets of 10, going back and forth across the living room,” smiles Claire, “and with it being the Easter holidays she easily got them in.

“She even did them when she was in Aldi and Matalan, where I work, and she couldn’t stop giggling because she thought she was doing something a little bit naughty!

“Friends and family all sponsored her and when she went past her original goal of £500 on Just Giving her face was a picture. She was delighted.

“Ella’s determination and caring is truly inspiring. At school she is the ‘mother’ of the class, always taking new children under her wing and looking after them.

“I suspect this might be the first of many fundraising efforts, and me and her dad couldn’t be more proud.”

Hannah Walsh, community fundraiser for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, says:

“It’s so touching that Ella decided to take on this amazing challenge in memory of her nanny, Dot. Support like Ella’s will help us to continue going over and above for our patients, enabling innovations in care, such as the work of the family support practitioner at Clatterbridge who helps to support families through one of the toughest times.

“Ella’s dedication at such a young age is truly remarkable, and we thank her for spreading joy and making a real difference in the lives of patients.”

If you want to set a challenge for yourself and raise money you can get in touch with Clatterbridge Cancer Charity on 0151 556 5566 or email ccf-tr.fundraising@nhs.net.