HOLMFIRTH teenager Alexander Bray loves playing his cornet to raise cash for charity.
In fact, he loves it so much that even a serious illness could not stop him performing to earn some brass for good causes.
Every year, 15-year-old Alexander plays his cornet in the weeks running up to Christmas outside his father's shop - Andrew's Greengrocers - on Huddersfield Road in Holmfirth.
He gives all the money he collects to charity.
But last December he was struck down with appendicitis. He had an operation and was told he could not play his cornet for several weeks.
But the Holmfirth High School pupil was determined not to let down his chosen charity, the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust.
So he dragged himself off his sickbed on Christmas Eve to play his cornet.
He was touched to discover that people who came to see him play had been saving their cash for weeks for his appeal.
His mother, Alison Bray, said: "People had been coming up to us and asking if he would be playing.
"When he finally did play, people turned up with bags of change that they'd been saving.
"The Linen Cupboard shop has also had a collection box out because they heard Alexander was ill.
"He was really touched and wants to thank everyone who supported him.
"I think it's lovely that even though he was not well, he still wanted to help."
Despite his ill-health, Alexander managed to raise £260 in just six hours.
He has now handed the money to Mandy Barwick, of the Forget Me Not Trust, a charity which aims to build a children's hospice for Kirklees and Calderdale.
Alexander, a member of Had Edge Band, raised £505 for the same charity in December, 2004, along with a friend, Thomas Golden.
In December, 2003, he raised £850 for Yorkshire Cancer Research by playing outside the shop.
Earlier that year he raised £250 for the Holmfirth Christmas lights fund.
