A BARROW schoolgirl has decided to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Lilly-Mae Grimes has taken it upon herself to make and sell pens to fundraise for CancerCare as they have been helping her through some difficult times.

(Image: Clare Galbraith) Lilly, who celebrated her eleventh birthday on Thursday, has lost several family members to the illness.

She received therapy at CancerCare’s local Barrow branch after she suffered the loss of two grandads and her biological father in 2023.

Her mum Clare Galbraith said: “Now her stepfather is very poorly with cancer and so she has started therapy there again.”

Lilly started making her pens last week and, after being gifted some early birthday money, she was able to go out and buy her first lot of supplies.

“It's gone from there,” Clare said. “They are all unique and she makes them all herself, no two are ever exactly the same. She buys the balsam pen and beads and then designs them.”

(Image: Clare Galbraith) Lilly’s first batch of pens has been flying off the shelves with profits being donated to CancerCare in Barrow and The Christie in Manchester, where her stepdad is being cared for.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is the leading expert in cancer care, research and education.

While she has mainly been selling her pens on Facebook, Lilly has also set up shop at her grandma’s store, A&L Local Discounts, on Dalton Road.

“I’m extremely proud of her,” Clare said. “She’s always been a very caring little girl.

“She loves making them. She makes them every night after school and at weekends. She’s really excited to be raising money for such a good cause.”

(Image: Clare Galbraith) Earlier this year, Lilly won ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ at the Love Barrow Awards.

So far, Lilly has successfully raised over £300 but she ‘really wants’ to reach her fundraising goal of £1,000.