£20k raised for charity in name of Freddie Orton

A fundraising page set up in the name of a seven-year-old Freddie Orton, who died during the school summer holidays, has raised more than £20,000. 

Freddie Jack Orton, who went to school in Market Bosworth, died on 15th July 2022. 

An online fundraising page was set up in his memory by his parents to raise money for the Bodie Hodges Foundation which supports families who have been bereaved of a child across Leicestershire.  

A note from Freddie's mother Gemma on the page said: 

"Freddie Jack Orton, our beautiful boy, died peacefully on 15th July 2022.  Freddie enjoyed a very happy and fulfilled 7 years in this world with his Mummy, Daddy and little brother, Harry. 

At just 7 years old, Freddie was an incredibly inspiring young boy.  He wore his heart on his sleeve and enjoyed a huge zest for life.  Freddie enjoyed and made the most of every single day of his life and was grateful to all the people who shared each day with him. Freddie especially enjoyed time at home in his wellies on the farm with his family and loved to play football at school and with his team mates at Market Bosworth FC.

In honour of Freddie, donations will be raised for The Bodie Hodges Foundation (BHF are a charity who support families bereaved of a child in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland).  As a family, the foundation have always been close to our hearts and Freddie himself enjoyed taking part in fundraising for the charity and learning how Mummy and Daddy helped.  Now, as a family, we will need the Bodie Hodges Foundation’s help more than ever. "

"Freddie, we couldn’t be anymore proud of you as our son; your kind and caring nature, that huge wide smile that you brought in to every room, for the love and guidance that you showed to your little brother, for the way you made all your friends feel happy when they were around you (and my goodness, we have discovered that you have tons of them!).  From the moment you were born, you had a special twinkle in your eye. You were and will continue to be our everything and whilst our hearts break every single day at the thought of never holding you again,  we promise we will use your strength and courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other for you and your little brother, Harry.   We said it when you were here and it’s even more fitting now …. BE MORE FREDDIE.  We love you with every bit of us.  Shine bright our beautiful boy.  Forever and always, Mummy and Daddy xxxx”

The Bodie Hodges Foundation are launching a capital appeal to raise £450,000 by the end of 2023 to purchase a much needed Bereavement Centre for families bereaved of child in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.