Local girl receives Point of Light award after raising over £25k for Alder Hey

A girl from Little Neston, Cheshire who has been raising awareness of the work of Alder Hey Hospital and has been fundraising for years in memory of her little sister, has received a Points of Light award.

Jess Weaver, aged 14, from Neston, Cheshire, has fundraised over £25,000 for Alder Hey Hospital in memory of her sister who died, aged 5 days old of tracheal agenesis.

Through various cycling challenges, spanning thousands of miles over the course of 7 years, Jess was able to raise enough money which would contribute to the new Children’s Bereavement Centre at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool. Jess and her family opened the centre in September 2021.

The Alder Centre is unique and the only kind of centre in the UK. ational centre of excellence providing outstanding bereavement and grief counselling with care and education for anyone affected by the death of a child.

By January 2022, Jess has pledged to add a further 2,000 miles to and carry on fundraising and helping to secure funds for a children’s mental health unit at Alder Hey Hospital and raising awareness for tracheal agenesis.

Congratulating Jess on her award, Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said:

“Jess has shown great determination over a number of years to raise a fantastic sum of money for a cause which I know will be close to her and her family’s hearts. She should be very proud of all she has done at such a young age”.

Cath Harding, Head of Community Fundraising, Alder Hey Children’s Charity:

“Jess has been an Alder Hey Children’s Charity Ambassador for seven years and has raised over £25,000 for Alder Hey in loving memory of her little sister Georgie.

Jess organises and completes an annual bike ride, takes part in Oli’s Safari Walk and does many other fundraisers in between. Her commitment to the Charity and Georgie’s memory are amazing and a credit to her caring, resilient nature.

Not only has Jess put herself out there to raise money for others but she has also shown incredible bravery and character to talk publicly and she recently opened The Alder Centre, Alder Hey’s new bereavement centre on the hospital campus.

Everyone at Alder Hey Children’s Charity are super grateful for Jess’s continued support and we are delighted that Jess is receiving this recognition.”

Jess’s Mother, Emma Weaver said:

“As a family it has been an honour and a privilege to be able to fundraise for Alder Hey. Jess embraced her role as a charity young ambassador from day one and gave 110%. It is so lovely that her hard work and dedication has been recognised, however it has always been about giving back to the hospital that cared for us at the worst time of our lives, rather than for merit. We are very proud of Jess. Thank you.”

Find out more about Alder Hey here or the Points of Light award here.