Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Little CJ donates his birthday gifts to ‘sad soldiers’
Youngster didn’t want presents on his big day
A birthday is an exciting occasion for any child as they hope to get their hands on the toys and trinkets they’ve had their eye on for months.
But CJ Henderson isn’t like any other youngster.
Rather than asking for the latest games console, Star Wars action figures or drum kit, the nine-year-old asked people to donate the money they would have spent on a present to his JustGiving fund to help “sad soldiers”.
The St Augustine’s Primary pupil was inspired to help former troops with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after he saw his mum, Trieda Hill, taking part in the current 22-day press-up challenge that’s sweeping Facebook.
After young CJ enquired why, Trieda explained it was to help raise money for “soldiers who saw very bad things when they were fighting and were upset about it”.
She helped him set up a JustGiving page with a £38 target – but it has been absolutely smashed with more than £700 having been donated to Combat Stress, a veterans’ mental health charity.
And CJ’s mum couldn’t be prouder.
She said: “I’m so proud of him. He has gone through so much himself but wants to help people he doesn’t even know.
“Combat Stress sent him a birthday card thanking him for him for giving up his birthday to help the veterans.
“He has raised almost £700 now. When he opened the card from them I couldn’t read it for crying tears of pride.
“He has had messages from so many people saying how special and kind he is.
“CJ is just happy that the soldiers won’t be so sad any more.”
Both Trieda and CJ are mad about bikes and attended a motorcycle meet in Kilmarnock on Sunday – organised to raise funds for Combat Stress.
The Stress Less ride out carried a stipulation of a £5 donation per bike, but CJ’s fundraising efforts go above and beyond.
Trieda reveals her son’s passion for bikes and how he tied it in with his selfless wish.
She explained: “In February, I bought a scrap motorbike and CJ and I worked on it and it is now his pride and joy.
“We saw there was a motorbike meet to support Combat Stress on August 28 and his birthday is the 23rd.
“He came up with the idea for people not to give him presents and cards but to just put the price of the card, £2, into his JustGiving page.
“The target was £38 as that’s the cost of a session with a mental health practitioner, as part of Combat Stress’s community and outreach programme.
“The 7 Sinz motorcycle club were so touched by him they gave him a special VIP escort to the start of the run in Kilmarnock from Coatbridge.”
CJ posted a video on Facebook thanking people for donating money to his cause.
He said: “Thank you everyone for making my day fabulous and for saying nice things and giving me presents anyway.
“Thank you for putting money in the JustGiving page for the sad soldiers.”