Community Rallies Together to Build Playground for Poorly Tamworth Toddler

This is the truly heart-warming story of how the Tamworth community came together for young Charlie Round. The two year old trooper has been in and out of hospital for some time. This prompted children’s charity Simon’s Heroes, together with local tradesmen to step in and offer him and his family some much needed support. The charity reached out to local businesses to help them build a playground for Charlie and his sister Olivia at their family home.

In June last year Charlie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma – an aggressive form of cancer. This has meant that the youngster has had go through numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery. All of this has taken its toll on both Charlie and his family. They have relied on the support of family and friends to help get them through this difficult time. Now Simon’s Heroes have taken up the cause, helping to brighten the little boy’s life.

They approached an online builder’s community, On the Tools that helps building contractors around the UK to connect – asking for help from tradesmen who might be willing to help build a playground for Charlie. They needed people who could lay down artificial turf and set up playground equipment in the family’s garden. A post was added to the On the Tools Facebook page and the response was incredible. Within two days of launching the social media campaign, the work was completed.

Dan Warner, director of DW Landscapes and Groundwork in Leicester stepped up to the challenge. Not only did he offer to pay for the materials himself, but together with one of his employees laid the artificial turf within two days. Another local businessman, Heath Elliot of Element Leisure in Wilnecote answered the call by donating the play equipment, which members of Simon’s Heroes helped to assemble.
In addition to the play equipment, the charity also gave the family tickets to Harry Potter World and arranged for Charlie’s favourite TV character, Barney the purple dinosaur to visit him in hospital. The efforts that the charity and local businesses have gone to have gone a long way to bring some light and joy to the family in what has been a very difficult time for them.

In November Charlie underwent surgery to remove the primary tumour. Since then things have been looking up for the brave young trooper. Subsequent chemotherapy has removed the remaining tumours. Since this treatment his condition has been classified as NED – no evidence of disease. However this is not the end of the road for Charlie’s treatment. He still has to go through another course of intense chemotherapy and stem cell therapy over the course of the next four to eight weeks.

With the help of his doctors and the love of his family, Charlie stands a good chance of enjoying a normal life. The heart-warming way in which Simon’s Heroes and the local community has reached out to this family in their time of need is touching and has brought tremendous joy to Charlie and his family. We can all surely commend what they have done.