Fifteen-year-old Ollie Moreton runs the Shirts 4 Africa charity, which sees old tops collected from schools across Staffordshire and dispatched to African countries like Ethopia and Kenya.
Proud dad Mark nominated Stafford Grammar School student Ollie to be an Olympic torchbearer and was delighted when his son was chosen to take part in the Stafford leg of the relay on 30th May.
Mark said: “I’m so proud, I can’t tell you. I’ve been telling so many people. Anyone who’ll listen! Ollie’s quite a keen sportsman. He’s represented Staffordshire at swimming and badminton. In fact, he started his swimming career at Stone Swimming Club, which is a wonderful club in the town.
But the thing he’s really been notice for is his Shirts 4 Africa charity, which is really taking off. He has collection boxes in schools all over Staffordshire and the unwanted shirts are distributed to kids in Africa. I’m so proud of him and can’t believe what he’s achieved at 15 years’ old.
“He’s going to really enjoy carrying the torch. I’ve told him to make the most of every step of the 300 metres that he’ll be holding it. In fact, I’ve told him to zig-zag across the road to make sure he gets a few more metres!”
Huge congratulations to Ollie, who joins four other inspirational people from Stone who’ll be carrying the Olympic torch later this year – charity fundraiser Russell Cox, marathon maestro Rita Banks, Alleyne’s Sports Centre manager Duncan Carey and young cricketer George Hawbrook. Find out more about them here.
You can find out more about Shirts 4 Africa at the charity’s Facebook page.
1 comment
Little Bit of Stone
Young people so often get a really bad press. Yes, there are some bad apples. But there are many, many more like Ollie, who are doing such brilliant things. Ollie, I salute you!!