The Commandant’s Coin has been awarded to Whittlesey cadet Frankie Newbatt for his dedicated fundraising campaign for Helipads for Hospitals. Frankie has collected many thousands of aluminium cans and completed 874 miles of sponsored cycling.
Frankie started to collect aluminium cans to donate to Helipads for Hospitals as part of the volunteering section of his Duke of Edinburgh's award. He began by collecting in his own home and from a few family and friends, but it quickly escalated into a huge project. Frankie and his parents began to communicate with local organisations and businesses, set up a Facebook page to promote his cause and sold raffle tickets to raise funds. He has also completed sponsored cycle rides covering a distance of 874 miles, the equivalent distance to riding from Lands’ End to John O'Groats. He has already greatly exceeded the time required to complete the volunteering section of the DofE Award, but has no intention of slowing down or stopping the fundraising.
Frankie with his award.
To date, he has collected over 4 tonnes of cans (filling 23 giant ton bags) that will be recycled and made into a helipads for hospitals that need them. His success has been such that he has funded (with council help) the installation of a special red can-collection bin in the car park of The Ivy Leaf Club in Whittlesey. The Ivy Leaf Club is one of the local organisations that consistently supported Frankie with his fundraising efforts.
As well as being awarded the Commandant’s Coin, Frankie has also been nominated for a Pride of Whittlesey Award.
Frankie said “I’m incredibly proud and incredibly thankful for the help and recognition I have received. Not many of these awards are given out, so I’m really honoured”
Frankie with some of the cans he has collected.
Cdt Newbatt was awarded the Commandant’s Coin in a virtual ceremony on 25th February. Commandant Colonel Fraser-Hitchen congratulated Cdt Newbatt and noted his strong performance as a cadet and role model. Colonel Fraser Hitchen also noted that “the enthusiasm and enjoyment he has put into this is well above and beyond the expectations of DofE and his chosen charity is benefitting hugely from it.”
His charity Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/group...
Text by PI Doug Stuart