A KIND-HEARTED pupil asked for money for charity instead of receiving gifts on her special day.
Emily Richardson made her first holy communion at St Mary's Church, in Duke Street, Barrow, on Sunday.
The eight-year-old Barrow girl was joined by family, friends and members of her school family from St Pius X Catholic Primary School.
A number of Year Three pupils from the Barrow school made their first holy communion during the service.
Emily decided that she did not want to receive any gifts on her special day, and instead she asked for donations to help raise funds for charity in support of one of her teachers who is fighting cancer.
The pupil generated £200 for Cancer Research UK, as part of the Fighting Fitz fundraising effort, during her party at The Kill One after the service. A great £80 was raised on the raffle alone.
St Pius and the community are holding a series of fundraising events to support teacher Danielle Fitzsimons, 34, who is battling breast cancer. Emily's mum, Sarah Richardson, said: "We are very, very proud of Emily, she wanted to help Miss Fitzsimons and other people like her rather than have presents."
Miss Fitzsimons said: "It was such a lovely, selfless thing for such a young girl to do and made me feel incredibly proud."
Gemma Carter, who is a good friend and colleague of Miss Fitzsimons and a Fighting Fitz fundraiser, said: "Emily is a very kind and generous little girl. We are all incredibly proud of her."
The next fundraising event on the Fighting Fitz calendar is the 1980s-themed zumba afternoon on Friday at school.
Staff, children and parents will pull on their leg warmers and sweat bands for the event.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here