AN autistic youngster from Grimethorpe has been nominated for a Young Champions award following his fundraising efforts for the intensive care unit at Barnsley Hospital.
Mason Cottrell, 14, of Brierley Road, has been riding on his bike to and from Barnsley Hospital over the past few weeks, raising an impressive £310 so far.
He’s on the autistic spectrum, meaning he’s a shy boy who likes to spend a lot of time in his room, so travelling 14 miles every week to raise the funds is even more of an achievement for the teenager.
Speaking at the time, his mum Danielle Barton-Cottrell, 33, told the Chronicle: “He’s usually quite an introvert and he doesn’t like to leave the house, so when he came to me with this idea it’s fair to say I was in shock.
“We’ve been donating to the Amazon wishlist that the hospital has but he decided this would be a different way to help those who help us.”
Danielle says that her son is very passionate about the guidelines set out by the government to protect everyone.
Mason said: “I’m just doing my bit trying to raise money for the hospital and I hope that other people can start to do the same.
“Even if you aren’t fundraising, you can still do your part by staying at home and following the guidelines.”
Mason originally was just going to ride to the hospital on a one-off occasion, but due to the support he received he has decided to do it for the foreseeable future.
“He’s completed another two rides since his first, and he’s sharing his JustGiving page every few days,” she added.
“He’s posting his rides on Facebook when he completes them as well – he’s just a total star.”
After finding out that Mason had nominated, Danielle said: “I feel really proud of him for receiving the nomination.
“Although this may not seem like a lot to some, for a boy who rarely leaves his room due to anxiety it’s such a massive thing for him.”
