How a kind-hearted Sunderland DJ is helping Craig Rennoldson and Alfie Doran after being moved by their health struggles

A Sunderland DJ moved by the health struggles of two youngsters has raised hundreds of pounds to help transform their lives.
By Sophie Brownson
Published 24th Jul 2019, 16:57 BST
Updated 28th Jul 2019, 12:44 BST
Youngsters Craig Rennoldson and Alfie Doran, with left to right, Jonathan Rennoldson, Anna Henry, Paul Garbutt, Christian Carolan and Sophie Doran, at The Pickle, Vine Place, Sunderland.Youngsters Craig Rennoldson and Alfie Doran, with left to right, Jonathan Rennoldson, Anna Henry, Paul Garbutt, Christian Carolan and Sophie Doran, at The Pickle, Vine Place, Sunderland.
Youngsters Craig Rennoldson and Alfie Doran, with left to right, Jonathan Rennoldson, Anna Henry, Paul Garbutt, Christian Carolan and Sophie Doran, at The Pickle, Vine Place, Sunderland.

Paul Garbutt organised a family fun day and evening event at The Pickle on Vine Place to raise cash for youngsters Craig Rennoldson and Alfie Doran after being moved by their health struggles.

Craig, 14, from Seaham, has cerebral palsy and he is also registered blind, has epilepsy, is unable to walk or talk and is fed through a peg in his stomach.

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As he grows, it is becoming difficult to carry him up and down stairs, so his family have launched a £25,000 fundraising appeal to fund a ground-floor extension to serve as his bedroom.

This will enable Craig to have a safe and secure bedroom and a shower room, any remaining funds will go towards equipment to aid the family when lifting him.

While Alfie, five, has Baliteral Spastic Cerebral Palsy - which affects him from the chin down.

His family are raising more than £20,000 needed to have a lift installed into Alfie’s room.

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And now organiser Paul has announced that the event held on Saturday, July 13, has raised £800 – with funds to be split between the two causes.

Organiser Paul, a warehouse supervisor, said: “The day and night was as a great success.

“We managed to raise just over £800 which I’m very happy about.

“Both Alfie and Craig’s families enjoyed the event, as did everyone else who attended.”

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Alfie’s mum Sophie Dow, 26, said: “I would like to thank Paul for organising the event and everyone who helped.

“It was a good event and we all enjoyed it.

“We still have a way to go with our fundraising so we are trying to get stuff done but it’s hard in the school holidays.

“We will be having a bag back at B&M in Roker this week and a tombola at Sunderland Airshow on Saturday.”

To donate to Alfie’s cause, please visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/aliftforealfie or see the Facebook page Alfies Adventures.

To donate to Craig’s cause, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/caring4craig or see the Facebook page Caring for Craig.

Related topics:SunderlandCaringSeaham