The 7-year-old philanthropist
Eddie Writes spends time after school and on the weekend tie-dying old T-shirts and ironing patches onto tote bags to sell online.
Eddie is a 7-year-old philanthropist who has raised at least $10,000 for Wellington Regional Hospital.
After being diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in August, he decided to also start raising money for Diabetes Youth Wellington through his online clothes store called New Life by Eddie.
A creative sort, his favourite thing about fundraising was decorating the shirts he was selling and how he got to do it with his family.
Eddie has been raising money for the hospital since he was 4 years old – telling his parents on his birthday he wanted to raise money instead of have a party.
‘‘I feel it’s good to give money to the hospital because the hospital helps me a lot when I’m sick – I’ve been to the hospital a lot so that’s why I raise money,’’ he said.
At 3 months old, Eddie was in hospital for a serious respiratory condition and this year he was in hospital for about three weeks following his diabetes diagnosis.
Through his fundraising efforts, he has managed to get a new bed for the hospital that parents can use overnight when their children are unwell.
Last Thursday Writes was the youngest winner at the 2019 Wellingtonian of the Year Awards – receiving a Philanthropy showcase award alongside Kevin and Julia O’Connor, and Ian Paterson.
Before he realised he was getting an award, Eddie said he was not interested in going to the awards ceremony until he found out they were going to Te Papa.
‘‘You know the rocks in front of Te Papa? I climbed on those . . . The only rock I climbed on was the crystal one because my dad gave me a boost up it and then I was the king of crystals,’’ Eddie said.
Once he found out he’d won an award, he was excited. ‘‘It was so special we actually took an Uber instead of our car.’’
He believed anyone could fundraise and make a difference.
‘‘It doesn’t matter what size you are, what age you are – you just fundraise if you need to or want to.’’
His mother – author and blogger Emily Writes – said he had a hard life and was turning it into something positive.
‘‘He’s seen what it’s like and seen what it’s like for other kids – he wants to help others who are doing it tough,’’ she said.
Writes said her son had always been funny and had a lot of empathy for a lot of people. ‘‘We’re wildly proud ... We’re proud beyond measure – he’s growing into a kind kid and that’s all any parent could hope for.’’