Cleveleys schoolboy walks over 20 miles to raise money for NHS charities

Oliver Jensen, 9, lives on Denby Avenue in Cleveleys with his mum Naomi and six-month-old sister Harriet.

But when the Covid-19 lockdown was announced by the Government, Naomi decided to move her children to live with her dad to help out at his home in Mayfield Avenue, Thornton.

After seeing the fantastic work the NHS staff around the country were doing to keep people safe during the pandemic, Oliver, a pupil at St Teresa's Catholic primary school in Cleveleys, decided he wanted to raise money to help them.

Oliver has clocked up 40km, which is just short of 25 miles, walking around the block 100 times during the lockdown period, raising £375 and smashing his original target of £50.

His mum Naomi said: "We're self-isolating with my dad and haven't left the house since schools were closed, except to take Oliver and Harriet out for a daily walk.

"He was inspired by Captain Tom Moore, and thought he could do something similar to raise money for the hardworking heroes in the NHS.

"Oliver has walked around the block over 100 times now, around 40km so far. We have all relied on the NHS in our family numerous times so he wanted to give something back.

"We didn't expect to raise a lot of money, but I'm so proud of him and how much he has managed to raise so far. He said he will keep going while people are still donating."

The money Oliver has raised will go to the charity NHS Charities Together, a group of 230 NHS charities nationwide which donate £1 million to the NHS collectively every day.

Oliver said: "Thank you to everybody who has donated money for me to do my walks so far.

"I really appreciate everyone who is helping me to give money to the doctors and nurses keeping people safe."

If you would like to make a donation to Oliver's cause, you can visit his Just Giving page.