Derby’s Giveaway Life prize draw site pledges to help winner John support a leading UK children’s hospice

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 23 October 2020

A Derbyshire-based competition site has pledged to further support to a well-known UK children’s hospice after one of its winners asked to convert his dream prize into cash so that he could make a donation. 

Jake Daffern and Callum Swann, owners of specialist motorsport competition site Giveaway Life, say they were only too pleased to agree to winner John Mitchell’s request for the cash equivalent after his was the winning ticket in an online draw to win a gleaming KTM SX 250. 

John, 61, lives in Tadworth, Surrey and, although he briefly considered keeping the bike, which is worth £3,000, he realised that he would be better off getting the money instead and making a donation to Christopher’s children’s hospice in nearby Artington, Guildford. 

The hospice cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families, but it has a special place in John’s heart, because staff there cared for his step-grandson,

Jacob Spicer-Grattan, in the weeks and days before the two-year-old sadly passed from a rare brain tumour called choroid plexus carcinoma, in January last year. 

It is operated by the charity Shooting Star Children’s Hospices but is in dire need of funds after the coronavirus disrupted the charity’s fundraising efforts, forcing it to close its other hospice in Hampton, Middlesex. 

John said: 

“The KTM SX 250 is a lovely bike and when I heard I’d won it, I was imagining how good it would be to get my leg across it and ride it. 

“However, not only did my wife tell me we had nowhere to keep it, I realised that a better idea would be to ask for the cash equivalent and make a donation to Christopher’s to say thank you for everything they’ve done for Jacob and our family. 

“Despite all the treatment that Jacob went through, sadly he didn’t stand a chance in the end. He was moved to Christopher’s about a month before he died and while it was an extremely difficult time, the care and the professionalism of the staff there is something we will never forget. 

“It’s very sad knowing that the charity is struggling because of the coronavirus, which is why I’m so grateful that Jake and Callum agreed to give me the money so that I can pass it onto them.” 

John used to take part in motorbike sidecar racing but is now better known for offering sports therapy to competitors taking part in motocross events, and it was there that he met – and treated – Callum, who is a well-known rider on the UK’s motocross scene. 

Jake and Callum, who met while they were still students at Chellaston Academy, set up Giveaway Life earlier this year in order to give fans of extreme sports the opportunity to win gear, gadgets and motorbikes. 

Jake said:

“Both myself and Callum were only too happy to give John the cash equivalent of his prize so that he could help make a difference to Christopher’s. 

“John is well-known on the motocross scene and what he and his family have gone through with Jacob is heart-breaking.  

“We know how much the hospice is in need of support at this time and we have also agreed to discuss other ways in which we can help in the future.” 

To find out more about Christopher’s visit www.shootingstar.org.uk and for more information on Giveaway Life visit www.giveawaylife.co.uk 

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