NINE-year-old Ezme Firth decided to go into fundraising action after she was inspired by the work of our NHS staff.

She set to work making cards that she sold to passersby from her front garden in Teignmouth and has raised £521.

Her proud dad, Simon, took up the story: ‘Ezme decided she wanted to raise some money for NHS staff as a thank you for all their hard work.

‘She started making handmade cards to sell in our front garden to passers by saying “20p here and there will be enough for me to get some nurses some chocolates”.

‘She’s ended this week over £360 in a week of selling her cards.

‘Myself and my wife, Emma, are obviously incredibly proud of her for doing this all off her own back.

‘She’s also been featured in her school blog at Hazeldown School for all her hard work.

‘As influences go, Ezme’s always been a kind hearted, and caring person putting other people first.

‘She loves being creative and doing anything with crafts, which has helped massively.

‘Another influence was definitely Captain Tom as she enjoyed following that whole story.

‘We have lots of friends who work for the NHS and both mine and my wife’s families have had relatives cared for in the last 24 months regarding illness, surgeries and unfortunately fatalities.

‘The knock-on effect of that is Ezme seeing all the caring wonderful people who are working so hard to be there for other people and potentially putting someone else’s life before their own.

‘I don’t think she will stop here as there are more donations still to come in.’

All the proceeds will be going towards helping the NHS staff at Torbay Hospital.

‘We have spoken to a friend and have been advised of certain products that the hospital require that we can buy locally. We will be going out to purchase the products with all the money raised to then socially distance deliver them to our friend who can take them into Torbay Hospital.

‘Naturally as parents we are over the moon with how much she has raised on her own.

‘Especially as the NHS has provided a lot of much needed support for our families over the last 18 months, through different circumstances.

‘Ezme is over the moon and I don’t think the amount she has raised has really sunk in yet.’