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Boy puts a smile on star’s face

11 December 2007

Little Callum thrilled by gift from Toon ace Peter

Litlle Callum Robinson is all smiles as he plays about on his new trike given to him by the Evening Chronicle’s Sunshine Fund. Callum , seven, of Deckham, Gateshead, has cerebral palsy.

A popular Year 2 pupil at Carr Hill Primary, one of his classmates nominated him to receive the trike to help his mobility. The ever-smiling lad had an even broader grin on his face when it was presented to him by one of his heroes – former Newcastle United ace Peter Beardsley. The trike is designed to promote Callum ’s physical development, particularly his legs. He has to use calipers and has Botox injections to aid his muscles.

Lucy Brooks, six, was reading the Chronicle one night, saw a story about the Sunshine Fund and asked her mum what it was about. Lucy then went up to her bedroom and wrote a letter to the fund. She told us about a little boy in her class who was always happy and made people smile, but had difficulty moving and didn’t have a bike. She asked if the Sunshine Fund would provide him with one.

In school, his teacher asked the class to make three wishes and, as Callum did so, in walked Peter Beardsley with his bike wrapped in gold paper.
And as he does with everyone around him, Callum brought a huge grin to Beardsley’s face too. “You make all the children in your class smile,” he told Callum . It wasn’t long before he was in the playground testing out his new trike, helped along by his best friend and fellow pupil Lewis Watson, seven, who also has cerebral palsy.

“We can’t thank the Sunshine Fund enough,” said his mum, Kerry Pegg.

Callum Kidd, headteacher at Carr Hill, added: “Lucy and Lewis are typical Carr Hill kids. They look after their friends and Callum couldn’t have any better or loyal mates than these two.”

Peter Beardsley was so taken with the children he volunteered to do an assembly at the school this week.


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