Teen Raises Thousands With Third Annual Halloween Fundraiser

Scarlett Goodall was just 15 when she transformed her street into a spooky fundraiser, and three years later, the Halloween spectacular keeps getting bigger.

The 18-year-old from Sherfield on Loddon near Basingstoke hosts the annual event to support Crohn's and Colitis UK, a charity that hits close to home. Both her mother and aunt live with Crohn's disease, a painful inflammatory bowel condition that can be debilitating.

Scarlett knows the impact firsthand. She spent over a year as a young carer for her mother Emma during a particularly difficult period with the disease.

"It's so nice to be able to have an event for the kids," Scarlett said. "The parents can come along and enjoy it, and it's all for a good cause."

The October 31 event transforms Bullsdown Close into a Halloween haven from 11am until dark. Scarlett decorates with inflatables and spooky displays, creates hand-painted face-in-the-hole boards, and prepares goodie bags for children who visit.

Everything is free for families. The fundraising happens through donations to Crohn's and Colitis UK, supporting research and assistance for the estimated 500,000 people in the UK living with these conditions.

Emma McGowan beams with pride when talking about her daughter. "Scarlett has been a very caring person from a young age," she said. "I'm so proud of her, she's such a caring person, everyone in the village knows her and loves her."

Sunny's Take

What makes Scarlett's story shine isn't just the fundraising. It's watching someone turn their own difficult experience into joy for others. She could have become bitter about spending her teenage years as a caregiver. Instead, she created something that brings her whole community together while fighting the disease that affected her family. The event has become so beloved that neighbors now anticipate it each year, proving that one person's compassion can become a tradition that lifts everyone up.

The fundraiser continues to grow as word spreads through the village and beyond.