Brave eight-year-old Ashton Fairfield is organising a cake sale to raise funds for the hospice which is helping his terminally ill father.

The Mead School pupil’s dad Thomas, 32, is seriously ill and the youngster wants to do something to help Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley, which is supporting his family.


Ashton, who lives in Paxcroft Mead with mum Laura, said: “My grandpa died and my dad has cancer. I thought I could help.

“I had to organise the date and the time, I had to sort out the helpers and make big posters and then I also thought I would make a big banner.
“I’m hoping that we will sell lots of cakes and then we will have lots of money for Dorothy House.”

Mr Fairfield has been battling the disease for three years but was recently given a terminal diagnosis.

Last year Ashton’s grandad Nigel Crew also died of cancer, aged 55.
Next Thursday from 3.15pm Ashton  will host a cake sale in the school hall with all the proceeds going to the Winsley based hospice.

Many of Ashton’s schoolmates as well as staff and parents have pledged to bring along cakes where Mr Fairfield, from Dilton Marsh, used to be a governor. Budgens supermarket is also donating caked and doughnuts to be sold.

Mrs Fairfield, 30, said: “Losing his granddad was bad enough, but now he’s losing his dad.

“Ashton is the kind of child who when he gets an idea he will run with it as far as he can. I think it’s helping him to be doing something. He’s a brave boy, he hasn’t buried his head in the sand, he’s decided he’s going to do something.

“He wants to give back to Dorothy House. He’s very caring.

“It’s all been Ashton’s idea. The school does cake sales generally, and it started off that he was just going to do a small one outside the house for passers-by.

"He was speaking to one of the ladies from the school office and she suggested doing it at the school because there’s a chance to make more money.

“Suddenly I had dinner ladies coming up to me saying ‘we’ll help’ and telling me that Ashton had organised it all.”

Mrs Fairfield, who lives in Paxcroft Mead with Ashton, said: “I’m completely proud, I’m over the moon. I’ve been so proud of him for the last two years with how well he’s coping. We do have moments where we’re both sat on the bed in tears. We’ve been there for each other.

“He’s always been really close to his dad. Ever since we split up he’s been there every weekend and half of the
holidays.

“He goes to Dorothy House once a week for bereavement counselling and talks about his dad and what’s going to happen in the very near future. It helps him understand.

“They’ve been brilliant for all of us, for Ashton, for me, for what they did for my dad and now what they’re doing for Ashton’s dad. His dad would be so proud.”