Stunning Sussex calendar is raising money for boy with spinal injury and leukaemia

Prize-winning photographer Jamie Fielding has launched his third Sussex calendar to raises money for his five-year-old son.
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Charlie Fielding lost the use of his legs three years ago and was diagnosed with a spinal injury, then last year, he developed leukaemia and is halfway through treatment.

The family lives in Angmering and Jamie, who won Sussex Wildlife Trust’s 2018 photography competition with a stunning landscape image of a poppy field, takes beautiful pictures across the county.

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Jamie said: “I am a keen photographer and I have been producing calendars for three years, starting with one I created online.

Jamie Fielding with his 2021 calendar and son Charlie Fielding with the Triride, funded by last year's calendarJamie Fielding with his 2021 calendar and son Charlie Fielding with the Triride, funded by last year's calendar
Jamie Fielding with his 2021 calendar and son Charlie Fielding with the Triride, funded by last year's calendar

“The next year, I wanted to use a local printing firm and Steve Cropper, managing director of Gemini Print, kindly agreed to do a free run of the calendars. We raised nearly £4,000, most of which went on a Triride, which clips on the front of Charlie’s manual wheelchair and turns it into a motorised one.

“This year, he has had virtually no NHS physio, as the community teams have not been able to function properly due to Covid-19. He has been having some privately at Neurokinex in Crawley, since it reopened, but he is a long way behind.

“It is not any sort of a cure, it is more about getting his body in a good condition and stopping any further development of scoliosis and spasticity.

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“So, we are raising money for the ongoing physio he needs, as well as adaptations to our Motability car we need as Charlie gets bigger.”

The calendar image for December. Picture: Jamie FieldingThe calendar image for December. Picture: Jamie Fielding
The calendar image for December. Picture: Jamie Fielding

Charlie is a pupil at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School in Angmering with his twin sister Poppy and loves getting out and about with the family.

Jamie said: “There is an ongoing cycle of fundraising that we have to do every year as it is a lifelong condition and there are ongoing physical and equipment needs, beyond what we can afford as a family.

“Last year, Charlie was diagnosed with leukaemia, which was a devastating blow to us. He had a spate of illness in 2019 and is now 1½ years into three years of treatment.

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“It is another challenge that we as a family have to manage and another battle for Charlie to face.”

The calendar image for March. Picture: Jamie FieldingThe calendar image for March. Picture: Jamie Fielding
The calendar image for March. Picture: Jamie Fielding

The A3 portrait calendar for 2021 is filled with high-quality landscape and seascape pictures from Sussex and across the south of England. The cost is £12.50, inclusive of delivery. Find Charlie’s story on Facebook for more information.

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The calendar image for September. Picture: Jamie FieldingThe calendar image for September. Picture: Jamie Fielding
The calendar image for September. Picture: Jamie Fielding
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