Boy, 6, raises thousands for children's hospital

Seb Sargentin Worcester
News imageFamily A young boy dressed in a blue and red Spider-Man costume with a matching mask over his face. Next to him is a person dressed as a large bear with a red t-short. Text on it in white reads "Birmingham Children's Hospital". The bear has red shoes with white lacesFamily
Joey ran this year's race as Batman, after choosing Spider-Man in 2025

A six-year-old boy from Worcestershire has raised more than £6,000 for the hospital that treated his sister just after she was born.

Joey, from Ombersley, has taken part in the Mini Great Birmingham Run for three years, raising funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital.

His sister Sophia was treated there for pulmonary stenosis when she was 13 days old.

As part of his tradition, Joey completed this year's 1.5km (0.93 mile) race on Saturday in a personal best time of eight minutes and 20 seconds.

The youngster has raised a total of £6,349 so far and was inspired to start doing so by the fundraising wall at the hospital which he saw when visiting his sister.

"He saw the incredible work that people have done to help support the hospital, and at that moment decided he wanted to do some fundraising," said dad Matt.

"It just so happens that we had an email about the Great Birmingham Run a few months later, and he was immediately hooked.

Each year, Joey runs the race in full superhero costume - this year he chose Batman.

Matt hopes that Sophia, now two, will be old enough to take part alongside her brother when he does it next year.

He added that Joey also had big plans for 2027: "He's got his eye on the mini London Marathon, having watched it this year."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.