Haven House Children’s Hospice
840. Isabella Field
Isabella Field, aged 12, from Ilford, has raised over £110,000 for ‘Haven House Children’s Hospice’, in memory of her sister Molly, who died of an incurable and inoperable brain tumour in 2010 when she was eight years old.
In 2012, at just six years old, Isabella organised her first set of events in support of ‘Haven House Children’s Hospice.’ The hospice provided Isabella and her family with bereavement support and the opportunity to say goodbye to Molly. Isabella started her fundraising journey with an Easter party held in the grounds of the hospice which raised over £1,200. She has since performed in numerous shows, including ‘Molly’s Music Concert’, organised school discos, made and sold hundreds of loom bands, taken part in sponsored walks, and sold countless raffle tickets in aid of ‘Haven House’.
Jacqueline Wilson, previous Children’s Laureate, was so touched by Molly and Isabella’s story that she dedicated one of her books to the sisters and donated part of the proceeds to the hospice. In 2016, Isabella was awarded Young Fundraiser of the Year by the ‘Institute of Fundraising’ and in 2015 received multiple awards from ‘Rotary International’, which involved presenting her work to 17,000 Rotarians in Brazil.
Isabella received her award from Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, at a reception marking ‘Giving Tuesday’, the annual global day of giving. They were also joined by Iain Duncan Smith MP, Patron of ‘Haven House Children’s Hospice’ and Isabella’s local MP.
In a personal letter to Isabella, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“By raising over £110,000 in support of ‘Haven House Children’s Hospice’ in memory of your sister Molly, you have given vital support to hundreds of children with life-limiting conditions and made a real difference in the care they receive. You should feel enormously proud of everything you have achieved, especially at such a young age, and for inspiring thousands of people through your remarkable fundraising.”
In a video to celebrate #GivingTuesday, Tracey Crouch said:
To celebrate #GivingTuesday, Minister for Civil Society @tracey_crouch presented a very special #pointsoflight of light award to 12yr old Isabella Field who raised an amazing £110,000 for her local charity. pic.twitter.com/qzTKf9XUja
— DCMS (@DCMS) November 28, 2017