A Soham schoolgirl has donated a much-loved dolls house to an end of life care hospice in Cambridge to “help people who are poorly.”
Ebony Alda, 5, has two dolls houses but decided to give her largest one to the Arthur Rank Hospice who are now selling it on Ebay to raise money.
It is currently up to £39 with eight bids and still has five days left to run on the auction.
The dolls house has been lovingly restored by Bev Lorking, a long-standing volunteer at the hospice.
Ebony’s dad, Steve, of Soham, said: “We first starting talking to Bev when Ebony was two years old. She was standing on some grass and I pointed out a man walking his dog.
“He came over and started talking to us and it turned out that he often comes into my work – Ridgeons – to get bits of timber to build and renovate dolls houses.
“Over the years we have got to know him and learnt all about Arthur Rank Hospice.”
Ebony’s mum, Lucy, said: “Ebony has always loved her dolls houses but Bev gave her a smaller one which fitted into her room much better.
“He said he’d restore her original larger one and Ebony decided that rather than have two, she wanted to donate one to the Arthur Rank Hospice.
“She’s always thinking of others. Even when she earns 20p for doing a job around the house, she puts it in the pot we have for our family holiday, rather than keeping it for herself or spending it on sweets.”
Measuring 2.3ft high, just over 2ft deep and 2.4ft across, the dolls house has a bright red front door and furniture including everything from a shower to bedside table lamps.
When asked what the best thing about the dolls house is, Ebony said: “It will raise lots of money as it’s so big with lots of different rooms and furniture. The purple bedroom is the best.”
Dawn Easby, the charity’s communications officer, said: “It was a delight to meet Ebony and hear about why – at such a tender age - she wanted to help the hospice.
“We hope people will feel motivated to share the story of her dolls house donation with their friends and people who they think might be interested in bidding on it.
“We’d love to generate some interest and conversation around it to help increase bids and raise an amount to equal her generosity.”
Bids are invited until leap day Monday, February 29.
The listing can be found online at Ebay
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here