A fifth grade student was commended for his generosity after donating his brand new tablet to the children’s ward at Northampton General Hospital.
Caleb Johnson, 10, entered a drawing held by the Blisworth Community Primary School on Tuesday, December 14th.
The raffle was initially supposed to take place in the school yard, but had to be broadcast live on Facebook due to Covid risks.
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Caleb Johnson, 10th
Caleb and his mother Emma Johnson didn’t watch the raffle live, but tuned in later to find out that Caleb had won second prize – a brand new tablet.
Emma said, “At first he was overjoyed, but then he said we have a lot of equipment and I don’t think we need another one in the house and I said it was a very adult thing.
“He said you know we always talked about people who aren’t as lucky as we are? I would like to do something for you. “
It was at this point that Caleb made the heartwarming decision to donate his tablet to Disney Station at Northampton General Hospital, where they have a Macmillan room for children undergoing cancer chemotherapy.
Emma continued, “At first I was a little amazed, but then I was really proud of him. I was actually a little tearful. I thought this is what we want. I would like to encourage that in him. His first thought was, “I have devices and there are children who don’t have them. Let’s give them to someone who really needs them.”
Emma called Caleb’s school to ask if it would be okay to donate the tablet. She described her initial reaction as being surprised by such a “generous and nice” act as it was second prize and it was a very big prize to be won.
When asked why he wanted to give away his tablet, Caleb said he didn’t need it and wanted to help others who did.
Northampton General Hospital’s Disney Ward is the designated pediatric oncology ward – it provides shared care for children and adolescents with cancer in Northampton, South Northamptonshire, Daventry and Wellingborough.
Its services include chemotherapy, palliative and terminal care, grief counseling, inpatient care and psychosocial care for patients and their relatives.
Emma, speaking of the decision to donate the tablet to Disney Ward, said, “Children have to sit there for hours to get their treatment, so I thought it would be a good thing to entertain them.
“We thought of places like the John Radcliffe Hospital, but that’s pretty well known, so people raise a lot of money for them while Disney Ward in Northampton is smaller and doesn’t get that much attention.”
Emma, the wedding photographer, is no stranger to helping others in need.
Emma’s charity work has inspired conversations about kindness and helping others at home since then, and she is very happy that her selflessness rubbed off on her 10-year-old son.
She said: “Now he has accomplished his first kindness. I hope it will inspire him to walk that path in life – thinking of others – because we need more of that in the world, right? I just think it’s really important that as we raise our children we value what we have and help people who are not as happy as we are. “
Caleb’s principal at Blisworth Community Primary School, Leah Jenkins, said she had so much “pride and admiration” for him after his heartwarming gesture.
Miss Jenkins said, “Our school family chose our values together – one of which is the value of community. It meant so much to us during the pandemic because all members of our community – parents, children and the village – accepted it with a passion to ensure that our children give their best despite Covid.
“Caleb’s kind act and the clear demonstration of community values have all inspired us. With as selfless behavior as a child as his headmaster, I can’t wait to hear about the wonderful things he will accomplish for others in the future .
“Caleb is making a donation to a Macmillan room that means a lot to the Blisworth School Family – we are so proud of him.”
Miss Jenkins added that Caleb’s “kind act” will be honored at a ceremony.