Bombs away! - Harley and Lily make a big splash in aid of Dr Kershaw's

Harley Vickers and his friend Lily Coffey present a cheque to Dr Kershaw's Hospice

Eight-year-old Harley Vickers and his friend Lily Coffey (6) took more than one for the team when they embarked on a water bomb fundraiser.

The pair had planned to sell sweets to raise money for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, but when the Bank Holiday weekend turned hot they decided to sell water bombs at 10p each – and put themselves up to be the targets!

It proved a winner for the young stars who go to Hey with Zion and St Edward’s schools respectively as they made a sign to attract attention and got passers-by on Greenacres Road to buy bombs before choosing which of them would be the recipient.

“At one point we went into the pub and as I was wearing a Manchester City shirt I got a lot of water thrown at me by the Manchester United fans,” laughed Harley.

The enterprising pair were delighted to be able to sign a giant cheque for the total of £20.20 that was received by Hospice staff nurse Joanne Mills.

And young Lily certainly has designs on her exploits making her a star when she asked: “Will we be in a real newspaper? Will we be on TV? Will you have to send us to Paris?”

Mothers Sarah Bell, of Rydal Walk, Greenacres, and Jennie Vickers, of Beresford Street, Oldham, said they were very proud of the children and that the whole idea of raising money from their fun for the Hospice was totally their own.

“They heard that a lot of good work is done at the Hospice and they wanted to do something to help. I am sure they will be back having done something else. They have really enjoyed it,” added Mrs Bell.

David Whaley, acting Business Development Manager at the Hospice, said: “Every penny counts and to see the enthusiasm and youthful vitality of Harley and Lily brought a smile to the faces of our nursing and receptions teams.

“Ten pence a go meant that they had a lot of water thrown at them for the cause and we are very grateful that they took time out of their weekend to help others.”