Hayley (7) raises nearly €700 for BUMBLEance

When her sewing class, Project Fashion, decided to raise funds for BUMBLEance, seven-year-old Hayley Conlon rose to the challenge, and she called on foot to houses all over Mullingar with her sponsorship card.

Every evening since April, Hayley walked around different housing estates in the town, accompanied by her nanny, Mary Conlon. Hayley knocked on doors by herself while Mary waited on the footpath, making sure Hayley was safe.

Through all her hard work and dedication, Hayley filled six sponsorship cards, sold 144 lines and raised €661.30.

“She wanted to keep going and try and sell even more lines, but I said no. I was too tired!” says Mary.

Hayley would like to thank everyone who supported her fundraising efforts and made a donation to BUMBLEance.

This isn’t her first time to raise money for charity. Two years ago, when her father, David Conlon, did a sponsored parachute jump for Midland Regional Hospital, Hayley helped him sell lines. She also appeared on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM for the Jump for Jack challenge in memory of Jack Charlton, and in aid of dementia.

Hayley is involved with Savage Martial Arts and was awarded Student of the Month for the second time in April. The instructors at Savage Martial Arts encourage giving back to the community, and helping friends and family is an integral part of earning belts.

Sensei Anthony of Savage Martial Arts said: “What can we say that’s not already been said about this young Savage? Ms Hayley goes from strength to strength to live like a Savage every day when she’s at home!

“She implements our teachings into her daily life to become the best possible character she can be. I am convinced Ms Hayley will go on to become a very efficient black belt when the time comes. Keep making us all proud.”

As well as her talent with martial arts, Hayley is a gifted singer and attends Stage School at Mullingar Arts Centre every week. She plays camogie with Oliver Plunkett’s U8s, is a member of Elite Boxing Club, is coached in tennis by Scott Hubbard, and enjoys Robbie Fenton’s ‘Bricks 4 Kidz’ Lego STEM workshops too.

“We owe a lot to Robbie Fenton as Hayley joined that class after lockdown as she was very shy and withdrawn due to lockdown. It may be a distant memory now, but that time was hard and very lonely for children. Bricks 4 Kidz is where all of Hayley’s confidence came from. She went from strength to strength after joining Bricks 4 Kidz. It’s a great class,” said Nanny Mary.

Hayley’s family are delighted with all her accomplishments and especially proud of her compassionate nature.

“She loves to help others and the fact that BUMBLEance helps children was a huge motivation for Hayley,” said her father David.

Aislinn Muckian of BUMBLEance told the Westmeath Examiner that it’s rare for one person to raise so much money for the charity, particularly someone as young as Hayley. “We’ve had children raise money in the past but it’s usually adults who fundraise for us. Raising nearly €700 is very unusual and an awful lot for anyone to raise, never mind someone who is only seven, especially with sponsorship cards, and they usually only fill one! A huge thanks to Hayley who has done amazing work,” said Aislinn.

By distributing sponsorship cards at its sewing classes throughout Ireland, Project Fashion has raised more vthan €9,000 for BUMBLEance since April.

Established by designer Paul Alexander in 2014, Project Fashion is a platform for teaching children and teenagers valuable life skills, and launching Ireland’s next generation of designers. Every year Project Fashion chooses a different children’s charity to support. In 2022, they raised over €10,000 for the Make a Wish Foundation.

BUMBLEance is the children’s ambulance service of Ireland and the world’s first ambulance service specifically designed and tailored for children, from new-borns to 18-year-olds. Understanding how stressful it is to transport a sick child, BUMBLEance is with families every step of the way, and the welfare of children is the number one priority.

The BUMBLEance service has all the amenities of a regular ambulance, and includes extras to make a sick child’s journey as safe, relaxed and entertaining as possible. BUMBLEance vehicles distract and comfort Ireland’s youngest and most critically ill patients as they travel to and from hospitals and paediatric treatment centres nationwide.

Visit bumbleance.com for more information.