Six-year-old Keelan Madden (pictured) will be spending his bank holiday weekend litter picking on Frinton Beach, near his grandparents’ home, aiming to reach 100 bits of rubbish as part of the Captain Tom 100 fundraising event.

The event has been set up to mark what would have been Captain Sir Tom Moore’s 101^st birthday (Friday 30 April), after he captured the nation’s hearts raising money for the NHS during the first wave of the pandemic.

Keelan recently started litter picking after being inspired by a Pick a Street campaign organised by the Havering Daily and the Harold Hill Wombles.

Keelan’s dad, Danny, who is multi-disciplinary coordinator in our Dermatology team, said: “Since he started litter picking he’s addicted and is often out picking up rubbish near our home. He has his own litter picker and gloves. He suggested doing this for the Captain Tom 100 himself and we’re really proud of him.”

Keelan, who attends St Mary’s School, Hornchurch, will be raising money for the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity. Having recently been a patient in our Children’s department, he will be raising money to help other children. He’s already smashed his £100 target, having raised £505 so far.

He said: “I want the children in hospital to have more toys and tablets. When I was in A&E there was a baby crying and the nurse gave her a dinosaur which made her happy.

“I want to do this challenge as I want to do what Captain Tom did and help the NHS. I chose litter picking as we have to save the world from litter.”

You can support Keelan by donating via his fundraising page.

This isn’t the first time Keelan has supported the NHS. Last April he won a competition in the Daily Mirror which saw his rainbow poster for the NHS published in the national newspaper.