Police family raises more than £15,000 in boy’s memory

Oliver's family were joined by charity staff at a meeting with Chief Constable Kate Meynell

Nottinghamshire Police has been thanked after raising more than £15,000 to support seriously ill children and their families.

Officers and staff, inspired by the life and memory of 11-year-old Oliver Shilton, have now raised a total of £15,217.80 for the Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

Oliver, the grandson of a Nottinghamshire Police employee, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in November 2022 and sadly passed away in June this year.

The hospital’s Big Appeal was nominated as the Chief Constable’s charity for 2024 in recognition of the outstanding support offered to Oliver and his family.

The subsequent response by officers and staff was unprecedented, with various fundraising initiatives – including an abseil down the side of the QMC and a Dragon Boat race down the River Trent – more than doubling the previous amount raised by a Chief Constable’s charity.

On Monday 2 December Oliver’s family and charity representatives were welcomed to police HQ where the money was presented.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell said:

“This is by a long way the most money we have ever raised for our chosen charity and that really isn’t a surprise.

“Oliver was a remarkable young man who very much became part of the wider policing family during the final part of his life.

“He faced his illness with immense bravery, and I know his story really caught the imagination of colleagues from across the organisation and beyond.

“I also know what an outstanding job the team at Nottinghamshire Children’s Hospital do with all the children in their care, and as Chief Constable I am proud to make this donation on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police.”

Established in 2016, the Big Appeal aims to raise funds to improve facilities by pro​viding life-changing specialist medical equipment and creating child-friendly environments for young patients and their families at the Queen's Medical Centre.