WHEN nine-year-old Ashton Stanhope decided to bake scones to raise money to help children have fun in hospital, he never thought he would raise more than $3000 in just over a week. 

His goal was to raise $250 for the Starlight Foundation but, more than 500 scones on, he says he’ll keep baking and fundraising until September.

Ashton, who’s been in and out of hospital since he was one because of chronic renal failure and blindness in one eye, wants other kids to have fun while they’re in hospital. 

“Just because you’re sick doesn’t mean you stop being a kid, and it shouldn’t mean missing out on all the fun,” says the year four Holy Spirit Primary student.

“I have had to visit hospital so many times and the only thing that I look forward to is seeing Starlight. 

“I’m fundraising for Starlight because of how much they have done for me and do for other sick kids.

“They’ve helped me so much and it will help other kids as well. You get to do something fun in hospital other than just being bored and sad.”

The idea to raise money came to Ashton after his cub scout group learnt how to bake scones during an online scout activity. 

He said he would bake 50 scones to raise money to earn a “special interest” badge from the club, but the scouts encouraged him to do more than that, and said: “How about 100?”

So 100 was the initial goal and, for Ashton, who’s been lucky enough to not be in hospital much this year, the Starlight Foundation was his top and only choice to give the money to. 

Ashton’s mum, Allison, says he could have chosen to raise money for himself for a scout trip like some other kids do but he chose the Starlight Foundation all on his own. 

“Starlight’s really important to him. He’s been in hospital three or four times a year since he was one,” she says. 

“It’s amazing. He’s just so resilient. Everything happens with a smile and he’s the cheekiest thing ever. He takes everything in his stride [and] he’s very determined. Normally a nine-year-old would make one batch and that’s it. 

“It’s amazing to see how compassionate he is to want to do it for other people.” 

Ashton won’t give away his three-ingredient scone recipe, but his mum says the simplicity of it means he can pretty much do it all on his own (she does the cleaning!). 

Then, on the weekends, Allison says they go driving together to deliver all the scones. 

Ashton’s mostly been baking on weekends, but Allison says he’s had to add another night of baking during the week, to keep up with demand. 

Wrapped in the Starlight colours of purple and yellow, the “sconetrepreneur”, which is what his big brother calls him, sells six scones for $5 or $10 with jam and cream. 

And even though Allison needs to clean up all the mess after Ashton bakes, she says: “I never have to make a scone in my house now because Ashton does it better than me.” 

Order scones by emailing ashton.stanhope@hotmail.com or donate via starlightfundraisers.org.au/ashtonstanhope