Eight-year-old Leeds girl walks 144,000 steps to give rough sleepers a gift this Christmas

An eight-year-old girl from Leeds has pledged to walk 12,000 steps a day for 12 days this Christmas, raising money for the city's homeless.
Nevaeh Wood, eight, started fundraising for homeless charities last yearNevaeh Wood, eight, started fundraising for homeless charities last year
Nevaeh Wood, eight, started fundraising for homeless charities last year

Nevaeh Wood started fundraising for homeless charities last year after giving her pocket money to rough sleepers she spotted in the city centre.

She did a sponsored litter pick last Christmas and hosts raffles, with the help of mum Naiomi, on her Facebook page 'Nevaeh's Mission to Save the World'.

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Nevaeh has now completed half of the 144,000 steps, walking near her home in Seacroft, taking trips to Roundhay Park and delivering Christmas cards across the city

The money raised will be used to buy scarves, gloves, hand sanitiser, deodorant, blankets and other essentials which Nevaeh will wrap and hand out to rough sleepers in the city centre before Christmas Day.

Leftover funds will be donated to charities including Make a Wish, Great Ormand Street Hospital and KidsOut, which is providing Christmas gifts for children who have survived domestic abuse.

The eight-year-old has so far raised £75 of her £200 target on a GoFundMe page.

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Nevaeh's mum Naiomi, 39, said: "I’m so proud. She asked Santa for nothing last year, she said she wanted him to help people who needed it more than her.

"Nevaeh would be happy with £5 as she knows it would go so far for the people who need it.

"She doesn’t come from much but she’s so giving with what she has.

"She’s such a loved little girl and everyone is saying that she is melting their hearts, she’s so kind and never thinks of herself.

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"We’re hoping to make a big do of it on the last walk, she’ll dress up for Christmas and we hope people will come out and clap and put a few more pennies in the bucket."

You can sponsor Nevaeh's fundraising challenge here.

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