Seven-year-old boy donates birthday money to charity (From Harrow Times)
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Seven-year-old Stanmore boy donates birthday money to Norwood
9:56am Wednesday 20th June 2012 in News By Anna Slater
Josh insisted his birthday was not as important as a charity bike ride
A selfless seven-year-old boy decided to give up his birthday presents this year and donate them to charity.
Josh Lipshaw, who lives in Stamore, also spent his special day doing a bike ride to raise money for Norwood last week.
The keen footballer then astounded his parents, Juliette and Danny, by insisting invitations to his sports-themed birthday party this Sunday include the words: "Please donate money to Norwood instead of giving me birthday gifts."
The year two pupil at Siani School, in Shakespeare Drive, Kenton, says he already had everything he wanted and it "didn’t feel right" to accept new gifts.
He said: "There are some people out there who really need the money, because they are disabled or have injuries and that made me really sad. I heard about the work Norwood does and it made me want to help.
“My family gave me around £100 in birthday money, but I don’t really need it, so now it’s going to people who do.
“Most of my friends didn’t believe me, but my friend Lucy told me she was really proud of me, and that made me happy.”
Josh, who describes his eight-year-old brother Zacky is his "hero", hopes to receive an extra £100 in donations from friends at this weekend’s birthday party.
The Lipshaws participate in the annual ten-mile bike ride for Norwood, which is based in Stanmore, every year, but had initially decided to give it a miss in favour of celebrating Josh’s birthday on June 10.
But then Josh, who says he wants to be a builder when he grows up, insisted his birthday was not as important as raising money for charity.
He said: "The bike ride was really fun and I got very muddy. I completed it in just under two hours so was very pleased with myself.
"At the end I got given a medal and I am really proud of it."
Sonoo Malkani says...
10:38am Wed 20 Jun 12
Starting to give to charity and especially giving up his birthday celebration at the tender age of seven is mind-blowing.He deserves a Harrow Heroes award.
The manner in which hes helped raise funds and at the same time,had oodles of fun cycling around,proves how creative he is---with a very supportive family behind him,no doubt.
One can be sure he will blossom into someone very special and will make us all very proud.Perhaps he will build homes with people's needs and budget very much in mind.
He has received a medal for the bike ride and shows how content he is with that.No sign of greed or being a spoilt brat!
We all are SO proud of you Josh.The Lipshaws are to be congratulated for bringing him up with such good values .i am sure he has made his school chums and everybody in his school very proud of him.What a shining light for others to follow.!