REFORMED Newport chocoholic Will Davies got the surprise of his life after raising a phenomenal £260 by giving up the sweet treats.
Formerly sweet-toothed Will, aged 11, of Gibbs Road, Beechwod, Newport, raised the charity cash by suppressing urges to tuck into his favourite chocolate bars during Lent.
The youngster, who has also now given up fizzy drinks, said: “It was really hard but I wanted to raise money for the charity Dreams and Wishes which pays for terminally ill children to realise their dreams.”
The sports mad St Julian’s Primary School pupil, who swims and does Judo with Newport clubs, is also a red hot Newport County fan.
His dad Daniel, a Mason and Master of the Lodge of Friendship in Newport, who represented Wales at swimming and judo, said: “We try to get along to as many Newport County games at Rodney Parade as can during the season. This year with the cup run, the league and the play offs it’s been really great fun.”
Will was with his family at a recent Masons Lodge of Friendship event when a framed South Wales Argus Newport County v Manchester City FA Cup fifth round poster went up for auction.
City cobbler Kelvin Reddicliffe, who framed the poster and who was auctioning the item for charity, said: “Will was holding the framed poster for me on the night and I could see he really wanted his dad to put in the highest bid.
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"In the end it went for £130-but not to Will. I could see the lad was really disappointed.”
Mr Reddicliffe, who is the Friendship Lodge organist, said he wanted to reward Will for raising the cash through his chocolate fast. He surprised Will when he visited the shoe menders shop, in Austin Friars, Newport, recently by presenting him another of the limited edition framed posters.
Will said: “We were in a bit of a hurry to get to Rodney Parade for the first leg of the plays offs against Mansfield so I couldn’t work out why Dad wanted to go into town to Timpsons.
"It was a great surprise to get the poster from Kelvin which I’ll put on the mantel piece at home if allowed or perhaps in my bedroom.”
“It’s a really great poster - the designer at the Argus did a really good job!”
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