Grandad would be proud of me
NINE-YEAR-OLD STITCHES 250 MASKS FOR CHARITY
IN memory of her grandad, caring schoolgirl Olivia McCormack came up with the idea to raise money for the charity that helped him during the last days of his life.
The little super stitcher got to work on making face masks to raise cash for Marie Curie Newcastle.
The entrepreneurial nine-yearold has now made more than 250 masks and has raised over £1,600 in the process.
And she said her grandad would be delighted with her efforts.
“My grandad would be very proud, he would definitely have wanted a few of them and I would have had five times more orders because he knew everybody in the world,” said Olivia, of Ponteland, Newcastle.
Olivia’s grandad David Willis, of Chapel Park, Newcastle, died aged 72 of mesothelioma in March 2019 and spent his last four days in Newcastle’s
Marie Curie Hospice. At his funeral, more than £2,600 was raised for the charity.
Darras Hall Primary School pupil Olivia added: “I’m making the masks for the people that need a mask to go out, so they don’t get germs from the Covid-19.
“I first watched a video on YouTube of how to make a face mask but they used hair bobbles which hurt to hook over my ears. My mum had a mask in the house so I tried to copy it using my mum’s pretty fabric and made them for my grandma and family at first.”
Her mum Suzanne, 45, who is helping to make scrub bags for NHS and care staff, let Olivia loose with her sewing machine at home in
Western Way, Darras Hall. And Olivia has not stopped since.
Suzanne, who is married to Paul, 43, said: “My dad passed away in March 2019 in the Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle and Olivia wanted to do something to raise funds for them during this pandemic, as they have been drastically affected.
“The masks were originally made just for close friends and family, but a friend shared pictures on Facebook of the masks Olivia has made and she was then inundated with requests. Olivia has made over 250 masks now and they have been sent to friends in Dublin, London, Manchester and the Midlands.
“We have had to manage the numbers as I have been providing the fabric, which is not easy as the shops have been closed, and the design needs a Lycra fabric, while covering the postage, and Olivia has also been doing her home schooling.
“Marie Curie UK posted about her on their nationwide Facebook page, but we had to say she wasn’t able to take orders as it was just too much for a little girl to manage by herself from the kitchen.
“Olivia has raised over £1,600 for Marie Curie and counting. We are so proud of her. £20 will provide an hour of nursing care so Olivia has raised enough money to provide 80 hours of nursing for Marie Curie.”
Olivia, who also has sister Amelia, 11, added: “Lots of patients in Marie Curie need help like my grandad and £20 gives one hour of nursing care so I have made loads of hours.
“I had my first goal of £200 and now I have made over £1,600. I don’t have a final target but I keep running out of fabric for boys as they don’t want pink masks. I don’t have a brother so don’t have boy fabric at home. I know grandad would be proud of me.”
Olivia is able to make masks for people in the Ponteland area. To order, email Suzanne at sm.willis75@gmail.com.
To make a donation visit Olivia’s JustGiving page.