Sheffield boy with rare growth condition raises over £1,000 for charity by telling jokes

Jesse Wiffen, aged seven, shared that joke and nine others to raise money for the Child Growth Foundation, a charity which supports children, adults and families of those with growth conditions, whether they have been diagnosed or not.

He had hoped to raise just £10 by telling one of his best jokes every day for 10 days but has been blown away by the generousity of the public who have helped him smash this original goal, with donations now reaching a total of £1,245.

The youngster has Silver-Russell syndrome – a rare congenital form of primordial dwarfism – and said he wanted to raise money for the charity as “they haven’t got much and they help people with their problems.”

Speaking of his achievement, Jesse said: “I thought I was going to raise £10. My mum has been keeping track of how much I raised and it was £1,000! I was happy and surprised.”

His mother Cat Wiffen, from Nether Edge, has been posting the jokes on social media along with a link to Jesse’s JustGiving page.

“I think he did this just to help people that have helped us,” she said.

“Jesse has Silver-Russell syndrome. It is an inherited growth syndrome which means that he doesn’t grow properly.

“He has injections every night and has a myriad of other things - really bad asthma, under developed lungs, fatigue, allergies and balance issues.

“It was his idea to raise money.”

After much back and forth at the doctors, Cat said she came across The Child Growth Foundation in 2018 and had a conversation with them which changed their lives.

It led to Jesse receiving his Silver-Russell syndrome diagnosis when he was five-years-old – with the family being supported throughout by the charity.

Cat added: “Because the condition affects so few people it’s not a charity that is very well known but when you’re the one going through it they’re the ones that can help.

"The Child Growth Foundation became invaluable to us and the yearly convention and research they are doing are so important to families like ours.”

Jesse’s JustGiving page will remain open until the new year.

You can donate via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jessewiffen or to watch Jesse telling his jokes click here.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.