A teenager who raised thousands by doing random acts of kindness has received a message from Boris Johnson thanking him for his ‘wonderful determination’.
Sebbie Hall, 17, from Whittington, Staffordshire, has learning and physical difficulties due to a rare chromosome abnormality and has raised over £10,000 for charities that support young people.
His acts of kindness started after he wanted to gift one of his friends his own laptop so he could use Zoom during the pandemic, and include handing out lottery tickets to strangers, giving out PPE and watering neighbours plants.
Appearing on This Morning with his mother Ashley Hall, Sebbie – who in November collected the Points of Light award for outstanding UK volunteers – received a message from the Prime Minister, who said the teen has gone from ‘strength to strength’.
Sebbie Hall, 17, from Whittington, Staffordshire, has learning and physical difficulties and has raised over £10,000 for charities that support young people doing random acts of kindness
Appearing on This Morning with his mother Ashley Hall (pictured), Sebbie told that the acts of kindness make him feel ‘happy inside’
‘Sebbie has a rare chromosome anomaly which has given Sebbie learning and psychical disabilities’, said mother Ashley.
‘He has loose ligaments and muscle tones, which has made Sebbie someone that other people have had to do things for all his life.
‘So this year Sebbie decided to do random acts of kindness for other people, which is great because it’s given him an inner sense of confidence and being needed.’
When asked by hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford how his fundraising makes him feel, Sebbie replied: ‘Happy inside’.
Sebbie – who in November collected the Points of Light award for outstanding UK volunteers – received a message from the Prime Minister
Eamonn, 61, then revealed that Boris Johnson had written a letter to Sebbie, thanking him on behalf of the many ‘individuals who have been touched by Sebbie’.
The letter from 10 Downing Street read: ‘Since recognising Sebbie with a Points of Light Award in November he has gone from strength to strength amassing a colossal £10,000 for isolated and disadvantaged children’s charities.
‘We have seen an absolutely remarkable community spirit across the country throughout the pandemic and I am personally very grateful to Sebbie for his kindness and wonderful determination.
‘On behalf of the 1,000 individuals who have been touched by Sebbie, I say thank you very much. ‘
Sebbie’s random acts of kindness include handing out lottery tickets to strangers, giving out PPE and watering neighbours plants
Sebbie started fundraising in March, when his school closed due to coronavirus and he was unable to speak with one of his friends over video calls because his pal didn’t have a laptop.
‘Sebbie felt quite isolated and was wanting Zoom calls and to speak to people but the child he wanted to talk to didn’t have a laptop and he [Sebbie] wanted to give him his laptop or iPad,’ said his mother.
‘I explained you can’t just go into someone house and give him things, so we started talking about charities and what people do for charity.
Sebbie started fundraising in March, when his school closed due to coronavirus and he was unable to speak with one of his friends over video calls because his pal didn’t have a laptop
Eammon, 61, (pictured left) revealed that Boris Johnson had written a letter to Sebbie, thanking him on behalf of the many ‘individuals who have been touched by Sebbie’
‘Sebbie said what he could do, which was to be kind, so we started of with 100 acts of kindness.’
Sebbie has since completed 1000 acts of kindness, with the money raised on his Just Giving page split between two charities supporting to young disabled people and those with learning needs.
After hosts Eamonn and Ruth revealed the show would be adding an additional £3,000 to the pot, viewers quickly took to Twitter to praise Sebbie, with one calling him an ‘amazing young man’.
One wrote: ‘Love Sebby and #thismorning – Incredible human being who’s story has made me cry with joy and happiness. So glad this morning added £3K to to pot. Big gesture.’
Another commented: ‘Well done Sebbie, an amazing young man, congratulations on all your achievements, long may it continue.’
A third said: ‘Merry Christmas to Sebbie. Loved seeing you on @thismorning and your jumper rocked.’
Several viewers quickly took to Twitter to praise Sebbie, with one calling him an ‘amazing young man’