Incredible teen raises $40,000 for charity through 1,600 random acts of kindness
[July 5, 2021: Marie Claire Dorking]
A selfless teenager has carried out a random act of kindness every single day since the start of the pandemic.
Sebbie Hall, 18, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, who has learning difficulties, began his kindness marathon after he wanted to gift his own iPad to a friend so they could Zoom in early 2020.
His mother Ashley, 51, asked him to think about what skills he could use to raise cash - to which he answered: "I can be kind."
Since then the teen, who also has a rare chromosome anomaly, has performed at least one act of kindness every day, which adds up to more than 1,600 in total.
Hall's various acts of kindness have included walking his neighbour's pets, watering gardens, posting mail for isolating locals, washing cars - and even a boat - and baking cakes for nurses.
Additionally, he has handed out PPE, collected unwanted Halloween pumpkins and turned them into soup and pies for needy people and given warm coats to the homeless.
The teen has also dished out lottery tickets, bought with his pocket money, to strangers, given 100 roses to 100 women to make them smile, and helped at food banks.
As well as bringing a smile to many faces, his good deeds have raised an impressive $40,000 in donations, which he has given to countless charities.
The money pledged by people inspired by his kindness has paid for 300 families to get adapted IT devices and funded a disability rugby team.
It has also paid for three IT suites for youngsters to use to find work, bought communication kits for kids at four specialist schools, and set up a disability arts hub.
The teenager, who was told that he would never walk or talk, has defied those expectations and his own nervousness about speaking to strangers.
"Kindness is my superpower," Hall explains.
"I'm not stopping. I want to raise more money and make more people happy."
His mother, a drama teacher, added: "It’s hard for any young person to go up to random strangers and speak to them, and even harder for Sebbie because he finds it really hard to find words.
“But he somehow found this inner strength of being kind.
“It’s given him a position within his own community and a confidence that he didn’t have before.
"What he has done is absolutely incredible.
“I am immensely proud of him."
Hall originally started fundraising last March, when his school closed due to coronavirus and he was unable to speak with one of his friends over video calls because he didn't have a laptop.
The selfless teen offered to give up his, until his mum suggested he might help more people by raising money to buy more than one device.
The initial challenge began with 10 sponsored acts of kindness every single day for 10 days to raise $1,500 for charities.
“At the end of the 10 days he bought his friend a device, but because he enjoyed watching other people smile, he wanted to continue.”
As well as handing out 365 donated Easter eggs dressed as a bunny and leaving secret Santa bags on 80 doorsteps last December, the school pupil has also written poems for friends and delivered toiletries to a women's refuge.
He is currently raising money to set up physical therapy suites by running two miles every day.
His actions have prompted a response from Prime Minister Boris Johnson who thanked him for his “wonderful determination”, while actor, Joanna Lumley said his kindness had “stolen my heart”.
The PM thanked Hall in November with the Points of Light award in recognition for raising $15,000.
"I am personally grateful to Sebbie for this kindness and wonderful determination," the letter read.
"On behalf of the the 1,000 individuals who have been touched by Sebbie I say thank you very much."
After announcing herself as a patron of Liberty Jamboree, a disability arts hub set up by Sebbie, Joanna Lumley said in an email: “Your story made my eyes prickle and blur.
“This is the way forward for all performers, and I am so very proud to be a patron of such an extraordinary and vital organisation.”
Former rugby union player Will Greenwood described Hall as a "legend" and an "amazing young man" in tweets.
Meanwhile Saracens player Maro Itoje tweeted to say the youngster is "an inspiration to us all" - to which former player Lawrence Dallaglio replied: "Thank you for reminding us all that giving is the greatest gift in the world."
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