YEAR 9’s Daniel Macdiarmid took part in a hair-raising challenge in December, single-handedly raising £7685 for a children’s hospice and befriending his idol, the comedian Jack Whitehall, in the process.
At just 13 years old, Dan, known to all as Shrimpy, arranged with the help of an outdoor bound company to dangle 115 ft above the sea on a Welsh cliffside platform overnight with his older brother Calvin so that he could raise money in sponsorship for Arundel’s Chestnut Tree House hospice. He had seen the comedian do it on TV and thought it would be a great way to raise money to buy Christmas presents for the hospice.
And when news of his achievement hit the national newspapers, Mr Whitehall sent him £1000 towards his target of £3500 and Facetimed him to have a chat and invite him to his next gig.
Dan’s dad, also called Daniel, said: “We were already amazed to see Jack had pledged £1000 on Shrimpy’s Just Giving page and then the school contacted us to say Jack had been in touch asking for Shrimpy’s details so he could Facetime. He was really funny and revealed that when he had done the challenge on the same Pembrokeshire coast as my boys, he hadn’t actually lasted the whole night like Shrimpy and Calvin had as it was too scary. He also invited him to come along and meet him when his postponed Brighton show takes place in the new year. Shrimpy can’t wait!”
This isn’t the first time Dan has raised funds for Chestnut Tree House. He has been finding ways to raise money for the charity to buy Christmas gifts for its residents since he was nine. Past challenges have included taking on the highest, fastest and longest zipwire in Europe blindfolded and repeatedly abseiling off a huge viaduct until he had covered the distance of the Empire State Building.
His dad added: “I’m so proud of him. He has now raised £7685 from this one challenge alone – that’s on top of the £6300 he has raised though past challenges. We went out and bought so many presents for the hospice and it has meant so much to Shrimpy to see how excited they are to receive them. Jack has already volunteered to get behind his next challenge – we just have to think what it will be now.”
Shrimpy added: “The challenge was pretty scary. It was dark and noisy and although we were wrapped up warmly we were being buffeted by 50mph gusts of winds. We were so frightened we nearly called it off at about 4am but thinking about being able to buy all those presents for the hospice helped us get through it. Now Jack has been in touch too and pledged £1000 – I’m so glad we managed to get through it!”
Headmaster Robert Blewitt added: “Once again, Daniel has shown amazing empathy with children who have been dealt a very tough hand in life – and that shows remarkable maturity. Lewes Old Grammar School has been raising money for Chestnut Tree House for many, many years and it is a charity close to our hearts having helped parents linked to the school. Daniel’s courage and determination to improve the lives of the children in the hospice in a small way by making sure they have an exciting Christmas fills me with pride as his headmaster. What he has achieved is a wonderful example of how one little idea can grow and blossom into something that can make a real difference.”
Chestnut Tree House’s Martin Styring said: “The generosity of the local community makes children’s hospice care possible. It costs Chestnut Tree House over £4 million every year to provide hospice care for children in Sussex and South East Hampshire and very little of this comes from central government. It is thanks to support from individuals and businesses – donating, fundraising, visiting our charity shops – that children and families have the chance to live life to the full and say goodbye in the way that is right for them. Daniel’s kindness and ongoing support for Chestnut Tree House and the children we care for is inspiring.”
Article on The Times > https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brothers-camp-on-a-windy-welsh-cliff-to-wish-hospice-children-a-merry-christmas-nnnd5r5xb
Article on Daily Mail > https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10330685/Daredevil-brothers-13-18-spend-night-rock-face-high-winds-raise-money-charity.html
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