A 13-YEAR-OLD boy is set to dangle off a cliff for 24 hours to raise money to buy Christmas presents for sick children.
Daniel MacDiarmid has been fundraising for Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice in Angmering since the age of nine.
Each year, he takes on a different challenge which have included cycling from Brighton to Portsmouth, zip wiring, abseiling and BMX stunts.
Daniel, known as Shrimpy, said the inspiration behind the fundraisers was an unexpected trip to hospital for an operation at the age of four.
“While I was there, I saw a lot of really poorly children and I thought about how I could help,” he said.
To date, the Lewes Old Grammar School pupil has raised £6,300, but hopes his upcoming challenge will add to that total.
Daniel will spend 24 hours cradled off a cliff in St Davids in Pembrokeshire – around 40 metres above sea level.
The idea behind the stunt, which is set to begin on December 4, came about after watching comedian Jack Whitehall on television.
“I told my dad about it and he looked it up and saw that a company called Rise and Summit organised it for Jack, so he contacted them and now they are organising it for us,” he said.
“I have to do it with my 18-year-old brother Calvin for insurance purposes, so we will just dress up warm, take lots of snacks and see what happens.
“I don’t think I will feel scared – I’m just going to lie there and think about all the presents this will help me buy for the kids in the hospice.”
Each year after his challenges, Daniel and his parents go on a mammoth shopping spree to buy hundreds of gifts for children at this hospice.
His father, also Daniel MacDiarmid, said: “We honestly could not be prouder of him – he just keeps on coming up with new ways to raise money to buy presents for the children in the hospice.
“Of course, we know it is all safe for him and Calvin, but his mum is still a little bit nervous.”
Lewes Old Grammar School head teacher Robert Blewitt said the pupil is once again showing “amazing empathy with children who have been dealt a very tough hand in life”.
“That shows remarkable maturity. His courage and determination to improve their lives in a small way by making sure they have an exciting Christmas fills me with pride as his headmaster,” he said.
“What he has achieved is wonderful example of how one little idea can grow and blossom into something that can make a real difference.”
Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice community fundraiser Martin Styring said generosity like that from Daniel 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,” he said.
“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, and we wish him the best of luck with his challenge.”
Donations can be made through JustGiving.
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