A SCHOOLBOY is to auction Brighton and Hove Albion hero Bruno’s boots to raise money for the hospice that cared for his sister.
Louis Ebenezer, 12, who lives in Hove, is auctioning the signed boots to raise money for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice near Arundel.
The charity supported Louis’s family after the sudden death of his two-year-old sister, Eve, in 2005.
The boots were worn by Bruno in his last season playing for Albion and the former captain donated them to Louis to help his cause.
Louis, a pupil at St Christopher’s school in Hove, started fundraising on November 20.
He plans to complete a 30km run and a paddleboarding trip around Brighton Palace Pier as well as hosting a garage sale.
So far, Louis has raised more than £1,000 for the charity.
Chestnut Tree House provides hospice care services and community support for children and young people with progressive, life-shortening conditions.
Louis’s mother Joanna Ebenezer said it gave them vital support following the death of her daughter.
She said: “It was at a time when there wasn’t much support available, so having Chestnut Tree House’s help was invaluable and we were so grateful to them for this.”
Louis said that supporting the charity and helping people makes him feel “really good”.
He said: “It is really exciting coming up with and completing all the different tasks that you set yourself and then being able to check your fundraising page each night when you get back from school.
“I have had a great time setting up the fundraising page and it has been really motivating to see all the nice comments coming in and watching the amount raised for Chestnut Tree House creeping up.
“The support I have got from everyone has been amazing.
“This morning two of my teachers started clapping as I ran past them on the seafront which made me run faster.”
Bruno’s boots will be auctioned on Saturday, December 5.
More information can be found at https://app.galabid.com/snowman/items/474ed4d6-9638-41b4-826c-ececefec8e93?backPath=%2Fsnowman%2Fitems
To donate to the fundraiser visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/louisebenezer
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here