An inspiring primary school pupil has been named this week’s Charity Champion after raising over £600 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Six-year-old Ryland Petty, a pupil at Cheslyn Hay Primary School, wanted to do something different and special to celebrate his sixth birthday so he decided to take on six challenges in six days to raise funds for the charity that is close to his heart.

Ryland’s friend, six-year-old Daisy, was a patient at Birmingham Children’s Hospital a few years ago, when she was treated for Pontine Glioma Inoperable - a rare brain tumour.  

After watching an episode of Newsround and seeing another schoolgirl take on a charity rockclimbing challenge, Ryland decided he wanted to fundraise too and chose to do it for the hospital that cared for Daisy.

He said: “I wanted to do something different and fun to celebrate my birthday and also help the hospital which is helping people like Daisy get better. I did litter picking, rock climbing, swimming, running and much more - it was really fun. I absolutely smashed my target of £250 and raised a fantastic £680, which I was really happy with!”

Daisy is now doing really well and has been in remission since December 2016.

Serena Daw, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “We’re so proud of Ryland for choosing to fundraise for us for his sixth birthday – what an inspirational boy! It sounded like he had a great week doing lots of different challenges and to raise £680 in total is just incredible. He is a superstar.”

“We’re really glad to hear Daisy is doing well, and wish her all the best for the future. The money Ryland has raised will go on to help the 90,000 children and young people, like Daisy, treated at our hospital every year.”

For more information about Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, visit www.bch.org.uk, email [email protected] or call 0121 333 8506.