Ossie Boy's Fund

 Ossie was blessed with eight incredible Godparents, three of whom—Sara, Nikki, and Laura—have been the heart and soul of our charity since its inception in January 2016.

It all began when Sara organized a wrestling match as a special gift for Ossie’s 10th birthday. When we discovered that laser treatment in America could potentially save his life, we turned that birthday celebration into our very first fundraiser. Sara’s neighbour, Nick the wrestler, rallied support by inviting the renowned Knight family from Norwich to headline the event, alongside other local wrestling stars. The evening was unforgettable—made even more magical when the Knights FaceTimed WWE superstar Paige, who spoke directly to Ossie from the U.S.

Building on that momentum, Laura and close family friend Kate launched our next major event: Ossie Fest. They brought in the legendary DJ Brandon Block, along with a lineup of incredibly talented performers. That was the moment the charity truly took flight, as people from all walks of life reached out to help.

Back in 2016, our committee was 12 strong, each member bringing their own unique ideas and energy.  Kate generously donated profits from her barber shop, while Laura hosted a summer fete at her workplace. Nikki tapped into her boxing connections to organize another spectacular event, which ended with Ossie being showered with gifts—he was absolutely over the moon.

Our committee has always been a family affair. Ossie’s grandparents have played vital roles, with Nanny Lyn serving as our dedicated treasurer, and the sharp business minds of Nanny Sue and Grandad John guiding us forward. Ossie’s auntie Donna, along with Sarah, Nicky, and many other wonderful supporters, have been ever-present at our events, forming a loving community around Ossie.

While Ossie’s parents, Karly and Lee, focused on caring for him and his siblings—Taylar, Shae, and Kortney—our committee worked tirelessly to raise funds and support the family and they were always in the background, the driving force behind all our efforts. Although we weren’t able to raise enough or had enough time to send Ossie to America for the life-saving treatment, we were able to give him 14 months filled with joy, love, and unforgettable experiences.

Thanks to the charity and the support of other organizations like Rays of Sunshine and Spread a Smile, Ossie enjoyed magical days out, including a cherished family trip to Disneyland Paris.

Since Ossie’s passing, our mission has been to bring similar joy and comfort to other children facing serious illness. In August 2022, we hosted Ossie’s Boys Football Tournament, raising funds for Spread a Smile and we have ran a tournament each year after to raise money for our current project below.

Our current focus is a five-year project to create a beautiful garden in Ossie’s memory at the new Acute Watford General Hospital—a peaceful space for families and poorly children. We’re proud to say we’re on track to complete it in 2030 (date subject to building completion timescales) See Ossie's Gardens page for more details. 

📸 Pictured left: Godparents Nikki (left) and Sara (right) with Ossie, proudly wearing the first Ossie Boys Fund T-shirts in January 2016.

Scroll down to see recent photos of our dedicated committee, now led by Ossie’s sister Taylar, who serves as the Chairperson of the charity.