An Ipswich teenager who spends hours of his time helping others was delighted to see his Christmas wish come true, with a surprise gift from a Suffolk businessman.
Ashton Fulcher, 14, of Ravensfield Road, is the woodworking talent behind Pallet Teen.
While many his age might enjoy spending their evenings and weekends gaming and socialising, Ashton has been hard at work creating bespoke Christmas trees made from wooden pallets.
His father, Shane Fulcher, said that Ashton has been working on orders since October, building on the roaring success he achieved last Christmas.
In 2021, Ashton donated an incredible £400 from the proceeds of Pallet Teen to Suffolk charity GeeWizz. The donation was made in memory of his Uncle Sprock, who had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and passed away in September 2021.
“Ashton has made £700 for GeeWizz this year, and he’s already donated £600 to The Bumblebee Children’s Charity,” said Mr Fulcher.
Ashton organised a raffle to raise funds for the Bumblebee Childen’s Charity, a Sproughton-based organisation which supports children with movement and co-ordination problems and delays. Several local businesses also contributed to this amount.
Ashton’s charitable work has not gone unnoticed.
Suffolk entrepreneur, Duncan Foster, explained that for the past few Christmases, he has sent a gift to someone in Suffolk who has gone above and beyond for their community.
“Gina Long from GeeWizz told me what Ashton has been doing, and we decided that this year, we would give him a present,” explained Mr Foster, who owns the Ipswich-based organic soil improver company, Aquagrain.
“His mum had told Gina that he desperately wanted a bass guitar, and I managed to find it online get it ordered and shipped just before Christmas.”
On Friday, December 23, Ashton received a surprise visit from Mr Foster.
“I was outside in my shed finishing orders when my mum said, there’s someone here to see you,” said Ashton. “He came and had a look around the shed, and then he said he had something for me so we went inside.
“Then, he brought the guitar out.”
“I think he was absolutely gobsmacked,” said Mr Foster. “He didn’t know what to say.”
“Ashton doesn’t do it for rewards, he does it because he wants to raise money and help these charities,” said Mr Fulcher.
“But it is nice for him to get some recognition.”
Ashton agreed. “It is good to know that people appreciate it,” he said.
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