‘Amazing’ Alfie ends fundraising year with £4,330 charity cheque

Dereham Cancer Care. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Alfie Oswick, from Cawston, near Reepham, presented £4,330 and a chocolate cake to Dereham Cancer Care to thank them for supporting him and his family through cancer treatments.

The youngster's mum, Jennifer, was diagnosed with skin cancer nearly five years ago and he lost two much-loved grandparents to cancer in a short time.

So he set up an 'Awesome Appeal' and managed to top his target of £4,000 in a year.

Mrs Oswick said he was very pleased with the total.

Alfie Oswick, nine, of Cawston, hands over a chocolate cake to Janet Money of Dereham Cancer Care, representing the £4330 he has fundraised for them through lots of different events. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

'We've done everything from raffles to quiz nights to pamper evenings,' she said.

'We got to £3,500 and thought we might not make it but we had a last push with a Christmas fair and ended up with £4,330, so he was really chuffed.'

Janet Money, founder and treasurer of Dereham Cancer Care, said she had 'goose bumps' when she saw the amount raised iced on top of the cake.

'I could not believe it,' she said. 'I had no idea it was going to be that much.

Alfie Oswick, 8, is raising money for Dereham Cancer Care. Pictured with his mum, Jennifer, grandmother Amanda Owen and younger brother Charlie, 4. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

'Alfie is just fantastic, what can I say? For a nine-year-old boy he is amazing and so is his family.'

Alfie and his mum are now planning two or three big events in 2018 to keep the funds coming in.

Mrs Oswick is in talks with The Talk in Oak Street, Norwich, for a charity day next autumn with lots of different activities throughout the day for all ages.

She said Dereham Cancer Care was always at the forefront of everything they do.

Alfie Oswick, 8, is raising money for Dereham Cancer Care. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

'We spent nearly three-and-a-half hours there at their Christmas coffee morning,' she said. 'We are part of the family.

'I am due to get a five-year all clear in April so I am doing well and we do appreciate the centre's support.'

Alfie will do well to top the year he has had - it started with a personal invitation to the University of East Anglia's cancer research laboratories.

At the end of February he was named Norwich City Football Club's community hero and given the honour of carrying out the match ball for the Canaries' derby game against Ipswich Town.

Eight year old Alfie Oswick learns about cancer cells with research scientist Dr Stephen Robinson. Picture: John Money (Image: John Money)

Earlier this month he was named a finalist for the EDP Stars of Norfolk & Waveney Awards having been nominated in the Young Person of the Year category.