Two young fundraisers for East Lancashire Hospice are taking their mission international.
Tom and Jack Mayoh, aged 10 and 9, are known as the “boys in shorts” because they decided to raise money in memory of their mother by wearing shorts to school every day throughout the winter, regardless of the weather.
They started fundraising in October 2018, several months after their mum Louise died at the hospice aged just 39. Louise was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago after finding a lump. Despite a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy the cancer spread to her bones.
The boys pledged to wear their shorts since October last year until the first day of spring (20 March), and have now decided to carry on for the rest of the year. They initially set their target at £1,000, however they recently smashed a new target of £20,000.
During a recent visit to Tel Aviv to visit family the boys were invited into Tabeetha School in Jaffa to talk to pupils about their charitable activity before visiting David Quarrey, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Israel.
Dad Gareth Mayoh said:
“The Ambassador congratulated the boys on their fundraising and even sponsored them himself. Tom and Jack asked him lots of questions about his role and what football team he supports. They weren’t very impressed when he said Arsenal.”
The Ambassador, who hosted Prince William last year, gave the boys a guided tour of the residence and grounds before they signed the visitors’ book.
Gareth added:
“Louise and I have tried to bring the boys up to be sociable and friendly and she would be really proud of them, but also a little amazed at what they have achieved and how much confidence they have.
“They have taken everything that has happened to them in the last eight months in their stride. The fundraising has given them something to really focus on – and there’s no sign of them stopping.”
Last month the brothers started off the runners at the local Darwen Dashers Heritage Half Marathon, renamed The Louise Mayoh Half Marathon this year in their mother’s memory.
For more information visit East Lancashire Hospice and Tom and Jack’s JustGiving page
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