Youngster's big birthday giveaway to charity

Monday 15 June 2015

A little girl has given away all her birthday presents this weekend to help other children in Jersey who are seriously ill.

Ellie-Mai Martin celebrated her sixth birthday by giving all her new gifts to the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation to help families who have to go to the UK for their children to get treatment.

The shy youngster who goes to St John’s School had a party earlir this month and let all her friends know that she was supporting the local charity she had learnt about at school.

Ellie-Mai said: “I just wanted to care about babies, look after them. I just want to help them so much.”

Ellie-Mai’s mum Breda said: “I was worried when the presents came, but she decided she’d got enough toys. She just wanted to help other babies and hopefully it will get the charity's name out there a little bit more.”

Grace Crocker was born in Jersey with hypo-plastic left heart syndrome and had open heart surgery at just five days old. Grace’s family had to move to Southampton for three months to be with her, but sadly Grace died aged just 11 weeks. The charity was set up in 2011 to give financial and emotional support to other local families.

Ellie-Mai dropped all her presents off to the Crocker family this weekend including a toy rabbit, a sewing kit, a kit to make hairbands, vouchers and more than £40 in cash.

Sara Crocker said: “They are such a lovely family, and it's the kindest, most selfless act that really touches you. We are so touched by her kindness and generosity.”

Ellie Mai’s presents will be auctioned off at the charity’s Hollywood Ball in November.

She said: “They have a ball this year and they are going to do the raffle and the winner will get to keep the toy.”

You can find out more about the charity here.