Feel Good Friday: Rocco's charity car show
It’s always heart-warming to see a community come together to support a good cause. And that’s exactly what happened in this week’s feel-good Friday post…
Rocco Dowsett was born on September 11, 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
A car-loving toddler from Clacton, he’s known in the community for the miniature green Lamborghini he loves to drive around. But Rocco was not always such a healthy and happy child.
Born with Tetralogy of Fallot, (a serious congenital heart defect), he had to undergo a series of operations to save his young life.
In October 2021, Rocco was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital for open heart and lung surgery. Thanks to the hard work of doctors and hospital staff, he came through the operation and has made a full recovery.
Rocco’s mum Leah told the East Anglian Daily Times: “He is now just like a normal child. You wouldn't know, unless you saw his scar, that there was anything wrong with him”.
Rocco’s parents, Leah Purkiss and Alfie Dowsett, expressed their gratitude to the hospital staff, saying “If it wasn't for the hospital, I don't think our boy would be here right now”.
Though their son will always have heart issues, he now has a much better chance of living a normal and happy life.
His family have documented his story on their Instagram account under @baby.roccodowsett.
As a family of car fanatics, what better way for the family to combine their joy at having their little boy safe and healthy and their desire to give back than to fundraise with a car show?
On the 21st August, Rocco and his family teamed up with Double Clutch UK and Torque Show to bring a community of car enthusiasts together to raise funds for the Brompton Foundation: a specialist charity which supports children receiving cardiac, respiratory and intensive care at Royal Brompton Hospital.
The event was promoted on social media, and drivers were invited to bring their cars.
The gates opened at 11am and within five minutes, the whole road was blocked. Over 150 local drivers brought their cars along to show their support.
Between the entrance fee, raffle, and stalls, the event raised over £2,400.
And for those who couldn’t make it on the day, Rocco’s mum set up a GoFundMe page for The Brompton Foundation. Though its initial target was just £100, the fundraiser easily surpassed it, hitting over £1,000 in less than a month on top of the money raised at the event.
The car show may be over, but the GoFundMe page is still live. If you want to donate a few pounds to support children like Rocco, click here.
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children like Rocco? Maybe you want to run exciting fundraising events like his car show? We can help you find a job in fundraising and turn making a difference into your full-time job. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.