A CRICKET-MAD five-year-old from Westbrook who was saved by hospital staff is raising funds for NHS workers on the front line in the battle against coronavirus.
Aneeshwar Kunchala’s 10-day cricket challenge will see him knock 1000 ‘hits’ with the bat, 100 a day, in aid of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The youngster started the challenge on Tuesday but has already smashed past his initial £1,000 target.
With the current fundraising total having topped £1,100, he has set his sights on reaching £2,000.
Inspired by the heroic efforts of Captain Tom Moore – who has now been promoted to the rank of colonel – Aneeshwar wanted to make the most of his time off school at St Philip’s by supporting hospital staff through his love of the sport.
Dad Anil, a keen cricketer, said: “We realised by looking at what Captain Tom was doing that we wanted to do something for the NHS too.
“He was just learning cricket and asked if he can hit the ball to raise money, that’s where it all started. We wanted to really encourage it.
“It has been around six weeks since he started to really learn about cricket and he has picked it up very well.
“When he goes into the garden with the bat he feels like he doing something great – that motivates me and my wife.”
Aneeshwar batting in his garden
Anil and wife Sneha have been taking it in turns to bowl to Aneeshwar as he fine-tunes his skills with the bat while raising vital funds for the trust.
His efforts in the garden have also ensured that he has cut the amount of time usually spent in front of a screen.
Anil, aged 35, a projects and consultancy manager, said: “I am really pleased with that because he was watching TV while indoors.
“It’s helping in many ways. He’s counting numbers so its educational, as well as physical fitness and mental health, while also helping society.
“None of our family work in NHS but a lot of friends do, which is a real motivation.”
But at the age of one, Aneeshwar was seriously ill after triggering a nut allergy, which left him struggling to breathe and fighting for his life in Warrington Hospital.
Anil hailed the ‘tremendous’ support from staff, something he is forever grateful for.
He added: “He was in a very, very dangerous condition. They saved his life.
“They also helped when my wife was pregnant with him, they were amazing.”
Anil and Sneha are keeping people updated with videos and pictures of Aneeshwar in action on social media.
To donate or for updates click here.
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