A YOUNG dale charity champ is back raising money after a Covid-enforced hiatus.
Teenager Ethan Fletcher has organised a coffee morning at Mickleton Village Hall to raise cash for a worldwide vaccine drive.
The 13-year-old has chosen to support Unicef’s Give the World a Shot Crowdfunder campaign, which aims to raise enough money to provide Covid jabs across the globe as well as offering virus test kits and medical supplies to those who need them most.
Ethan also hopes the event will be the perfect opportunity for residents and visitors to Mickleton to get together now Covid restrictions have been eased.
“The carnival was going to be the first big event to bring people together.
“It should have been the first weekend in July, but it was cancelled, so it will be nice to get people together again,” he said.
“I wanted to do something to raise money because Covid changed a lot of people’s lives and people need help. I had a look around and looked at the NHS, World Health Organisation and Unicef.”
Ethan said he chose the Unicef campaign due to the importance of the vaccines.
Unicef’s mission is to deliver two billion Covid vaccines by the end of the year along with 5.6 million tests and 5.5 million treatments.
To date, Unicef’s Crowdfunder appeal has raised more than £7.1 million for its Children’s Emergency Fund to pay for them.
Ethan’s coffee morning takes place on Saturday, August 28, from 10.30am to 1pm. Everyone is welcome to drop in. Admission is £2.50 and includes cake, biscuits and a cuppa. In addition, there will be a raffle.
“This is my first fundraiser since lockdown, although my mum and I did a small bake sale in our street for Sport Relief a couple of months ago,” he added.
Prior to the lockdown, Ethan organised a coffee morning for Channel 4 TV’s Stand Up 2 Cancer campaign and followed that up by taking part in the Junior Great North Run for the charity Heel and Toe, which supports children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
While his fundraising activities were curtailed during the Covid lockdown, Ethan kept busy by setting up a YouTube channel and launching his own weekly radio show.
Durham Police crowned Ethan Teesdale’s Young Hero for 2020 and the youngster met and interviewed Chief Constable Jo Farrell for his show. Anyone who would like to donate a raffle prize or bake a cake for Saturday’s coffee morning can contact Ethan by email at mickletoncoffee morning@gmail.com.
Details are also on Facebook. Search for Mickleton Coffee Morning.
