Eight-year-old Poppy-Paisely from Sheffield has raised over £1,700 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity by challenging herself to 50 miles of activity in the month of February.
Eight-year-old Poppy-Paisely from Sheffield has raised over £1,300 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity by challenging herself to 50 miles of activity in the month of February.
Alongside mum, Kirsty, Poppy-Paisley signed up for the charity’s Theo’s 50 for 50 Challenge. The challenge asked supporters to complete 50 miles their way. 2026 is a milestone year for Sheffield Children’s, as it marks 50 years of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and 150 years of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Sheffield Children’s has always been special to Poppy-Paisley and her family, after she received care at the hospital when she was younger to monitor seizures. Poppy’s dad, Tom, has epilepsy so it was important to make sure she hadn’t inherited the condition. Thankfully, her seizures stopped, and by the age of two she no longer needed to stay in hospital.
Tom, Poppy’s dad, is a mental health nurse specialist, and supports wards and departments across the Sheffield Children’s hospital site. Through the family’s connection to the hospital Poppy has become obsessed with the charity’s mascot, Theo, even spending her birthday money on Theo merchandise.
In November last year, the family sadly lost Kirsty’s dad quite suddenly. Not long afterwards Kirsty saw the challenge and decided it would be something to look forward to, and something to focus on. When she told Poppy-Paisley about the challenge, she jumped at the chance to get involved too.
It’s been tiring work for Poppy-Paisley, but she’s remained committed throughout the challenge. Her longest walk was four miles, which was tough for the eight-year-old, but the family have done their best to make the challenge enjoyable. They have walked in lots of different locations, even setting up a cross-trainer so Poppy-Paisley could keep up her efforts in bad weather.
Kirsty said: “Poppy has been tired on a few of the days after school, but when we talk about why we’re doing it and why it’s important, she’s picked herself up and been ready to go every time.”
“The work that the children’s hospital does; you just don’t realise how important it is until you utilise it. Anything that anyone can do to support it, they should do because we just don’t know how lucky we are to have it.”
The family have received an incredible amount of support, with Poppy-Paisley’s school getting behind her, and Poppy has taken to filming videos to encourage more donations. So far Poppy-Paisley has raised over £1,300, far more than the target of £150.
Kirsty said: “Seeing all the people who have commented has been amazing. In one comment another shared that Sheffield Children’s had saved her daughter’s life and it just really drives home why we’re doing this challenge.”
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is a national leader in specialist children’s healthcare. It provides integrated healthcare for children and young people across physical and mental health, ensuring all the care and support a child needs is connected, with the hospital, mental health and community teams working as one. Sheffield Children’s has spent over 150 years pioneering care that is rooted in the community, delivering joined-up care that meets each child and their family where they are. Whether it’s day-to-day worries, complex conditions or life-saving interventions, we’re here for every child and young person across Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and increasingly, beyond.
The money raised by fundraisers taking part in Theo’s 50 for 50 Challenge will support Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, helping to fund life-changing care, comfort and new ideas that make all the difference for patients and families at Sheffield Children’s.
It is the first event of its kind run by the charity, and thanks to the incredible support from their fundraisers, over £21,000 has been raised so far.
Events Fundraising Officer, Curt Howett, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed to see how many of our supporters have taken on Theo’s 50 for 50. It’s been amazing to read how people have chosen to complete the challenge, and how much the hospital means to them.
“Supporters like Poppy-Paisley are the only reason we’re able to do what we do at the charity, and we’re so grateful for their support.”
To find out how you could be like Poppy-Paisley and support the charity, visit our get involved page.
