Felixstowe: Pub regulars help make brave Ethan’s life easier

Regulars at a Felixstowe pub are pulling out all the stops for a project to help an eight-year-boy who is recovering from a brain tumour – and aiming to complete it as fast as they can.

The Half Moon in Walton High Street is holding a series of fundraising events to buy a special Smart chair for youngster Ethan Ridd.

Ethan, who lives with his parents Tina and Andrew in Felixstowe, was diagnosed with the tumour in early autumn last year and had an operation in late September, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

His parents held a vigil beside his bed for months while he was treated.

Landlady of The Half Moon, Mary Barker said: “One of the aims of our fundraising at the pub is to help local people – and Ethan is a child living in our community and we wanted to do what we could to help make his life easier.

“The Smart chair will mean he has somewhere to sit where is safe and secure and not a wheelchair, and it has memory gel that will shape to his body and help cut down on pressure sores.

“It will also mean his mum can feel confident moving about the house and looking after him, knowing that he is safe in the chair.

“We hope people will come along and support our events and have a great time, too, but we would also welcome any donations people would like to make towards the fund.”

The pub is aiming to raise £2,600 and is already nearly halfway towards its target.

It has raised £1,133, including a donation of £331 from the Ancient Order of Buffaloes.

On October 3 the pub will host a quiz night – the event starts at 8pm and people are invited to come along on the night and make up teams.

Then on October 6 it is holding a yard sale in the car park from 10am-3pm. People have been donating items over the past few weeks and the collection of goods on sale will include everything from toys to clothes, books to bric-a-brac.