BIG-HEARTED pigeon fanciers have raised a phenomenal £140,000 to help sick children and hospitals - yet few know about their unassuming efforts.
Their generosity has been inspired by a Middlewich grandad.
Les Parkinson, 70, started keeping pigeons when he was a schoolboy.
His charity work began after he saved the life of his 10-year-old sister Ann from a terrifying accident at home.
"When I was 12, my sister was in front of the fire and her clothes went up in flames," said Les. "I put the fire out. They told me I saved her life.
"She was scarred from her knees to her waist and needed skin grafts. While she was in hospital for six months I did her paper round, saved up all the money in a tin and bought her a bike when she came out."
Les Parkinson, auctions donated racing pigeons to raise funds for various charities
Les decided to continue helping other people.
After retiring as a supervisor at Rolls Royce, he turned his hobby into a business and set up an eBay-type website for pigeon fanciers, called Elimar Pigeon Services Ltd, named after his wife Elizabeth Mary.
"I ship pigeons all over the world to America, Australia, Malta and Spain," said Les, who currently has almost 300 pigeons, including many rare breeds, on his site. "There are a lot of pedigree pigeons. Many of them have names."
Les often invites sellers across the UK and Europe to donate racing pigeons and he auctions them for charity.
"We at Elimar have been organising charity events for over 30 years and have raised just over £140,000. Pigeon fanciers have never been shy when it comes to charities."
The Christie, Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey, Birmingham Children's Hospital, various hospices and Leighton Hospital are among the many good causes they have supported.
Last year, Elimar raised £12,000 to help buy specialist equipment for a young boy who could hardly walk.
Their latest gift of £10,408 was donated to Birmingham Children's Hospital where Les's granddaughter Ebony Crowley, 15, is being treated for a rare skin complaint, Ichthyosis.
Les Parkinson, who raises money for charity through his pigeon racing website, Elimar, with daughter Kimberley
"The NHS won't put money into research," said Les, who brought up Ebony's mum Kimberley, since she was six-months-old. "The money we raise helps towards research."
A gift of £6,000 was presented to the same fund two years ago.
Les's granddaughter Ebony Crowley, 15, who has a rare skin complaint, Ichthyosis
Mandy Aldwin-Easton, director of the Ichthyosis Support Group (ISG) at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "We were absolutely delighted to receive this fabulous £10,408 donated from the sale of racing pigeons. A huge thank you to everyone involved, we are extremely grateful for this wonderful donation."
Dr Ogboli, Mandy Aldwin-Easton ISG director, Paul Whitehouse ISG chairman, Ebony Crowley, Professor Celia Moss, Les Parkinson, Kim Crowley, Dr Lovgren and Sheila Richards with the £10,408 donation from Elimar
Les is already planning his next auction.
"It always amazes me how generous pigeon fanciers are and through their help we have raised so much money for good causes," he said. "I don't think they get the recognition they deserve.
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"We intend to keep this up so if you are willing to donate pigeons please let us know."
To donate a pigeon visit elimarpigeons.com/auctions
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