When Harrison Churchley has one of his many bad days and ends up back in hospital, the 11-year-old immerses himself in animal factbooks and wildlife programmes to take his mind off how poorly he feels.
This is how he’s coped in the seven years since he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a rare disease that makes his kidneys leak toxins, his body swell dangerously and his immune system shut down.
Little wonder then that when he was asked by the charity Make-A-Wish UK what he wanted most, he said he’d like to become a real-life zoo vet for a day – and the result of fulfilling his greatest ambition was transformative.
This Christmas we are asking you to help grant the wishes of more children like him by donating your old £1 coins to our Quids For Kids appeal.
Kind readers have now helped to smash the £200,000 barrier to make dreams come true for seriously ill children.
When Harrison Churley, 11, of Kidderminster, was asked by the charity Make-A-Wish UK what he wanted most, he said he’d like to become a real-life zoo vet for a day – and the result of fulfilling his greatest ambition was transformative (pictured)
Animal-mad Harrison, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, became part of the vets’ team at Britain’s biggest zoo, ZSL Whipsnade in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (pictured)
Tens of thousands of old £1 coins, which went out of circulation in October, have been donated at branches of Nationwide Building Society for Make-A-Wish UK, which arranges magical experiences for youngsters fighting life-threatening conditions.
Nationwide has generously agreed to match all donations to the appeal at the building society up to £50,000.
You, too, can give to our brilliant appeal by handing your coins to the cashier at any Nationwide, stating that they are for the Mail’s Quids For Kids Make-A-Wish Foundation UK appeal.
You can also send a donation directly to our fund – see the coupon below – or visit www.dailymail.co.uk/quidsforkids.
There are still two weeks to donate to the appeal, which will help some of the 20,000 youngsters facing treatment in hospital over Christmas.
He is pictured with his father Carl, mother Dawn and brother William, eight (second right)
Seven years ago he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a rare disease that makes his kidneys leak toxins, his body swell dangerously and his immune system shut down
Animal-mad Harrison, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, became part of the vets’ team at Britain’s biggest zoo, ZSL Whipsnade in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
He was joined by mum Dawn, who works for an IT firm, dad, Carl, 45, a workshop manager, and brother William, eight.
Dawn, 47, said: ‘Harrison was able to explore the operating theatre, got up close and personal with a Bengal tiger, and even helped give a goat a health check.
‘But what was truly special was being able to spend time with people who feel as passionately about animals as he does. He came away more determined than ever to become one himself.’
‘In the run-up, he was beside himself with excitement.
‘Every pound has the potential to make an enormous difference to children like Harrison, who don’t always know what they’ll face tomorrow.
‘It gives them something positive to focus on and allows them to make memories. I can’t think of a thing that could have made him happier.’
Harrison’s (pictured) mother Dawn said: ‘Every pound has the potential to make an enormous difference to children like Harrison, who don’t always know what they’ll face tomorrow.’