Fundraiser for Noah Woods’ family nears £100,000 after thousands donate

Thousands of people have been moved by the death of three-year-old Noah Woods, who was pulled from a pond after going missing.

The young boy’s fate has struck a chord across the UK after his death was announced yesterday following a nearly 24-hour urgent search involving an army of volunteers and emergency services in Suffolk.

Noah went missing after managing to run away from a relative after a visit to a playground in Brantham village on Tuesday afternoon.

Police divers discovered a child’s body in Decoy Pond on Wednesday, and Noah’s dad later confirmed it was his ‘sweetest and most innocent little boy.’

Dad Rhys Woods said the family had been holding onto hope that ‘he would be hiding somewhere obvious where someone could find him,’ until the police told them the tragic news.

A charity supporting dads and their mental health quickly set up a fundraiser to help Noah’s family.

Good Dads Club launched the page on JustGiving, and within hours, it had breached its original target as money poured in from people across the UK.

By Friday, it had exceeded £80,000 as 5,069 people had donated.

The charity said: ‘In light of the news regarding three-year-old Noah Woods, Good Dads Club is calling on our community to give whatever they can to ease the overwhelming burden on his family during this heartbreaking time.

‘While no amount of money can undo these life altering events, every single financial contribution will go directly toward helping Noah’s family’s expenses, navigate daily bills, and take the necessary time off work to grieve without the added strain of financial worry.’

Messages of support and solidarity filled the fundraising page.

One person said: ‘Thinking of you all and sending strength at this incredibly sad time. The entire nation holds sweet little Noah and his bright smile in their hearts. Rest in peace beautiful boy.’

Another one wrote: ‘Sending so much strength and love to the family. The community are with you. Noah is in everyone’s hearts.’

A woman who pledged money said the story of Noah ‘will stay with me for the rest of my life and I think that’s how most of the nation feels.’

Rhys Woods said in his latest statement: ‘There are no words to describe the pain of this loss, we are all absolutely heartbroken, Noah was the sweetest and most innocent little boy, with nothing but love to give, and we are going to miss him so very much.

‘It seems he has made an impact across the whole nation, you have all taken Noah into your own hearts, with all the overwhelming help, we were all just trying to bring him home to us safe and sound.’

East Bergholt United FC said it has decided to suspend all club fixtures this week following the death of Noah.

‘We believe this decision is the right thing to do, as it allows us to reflect on what has happened, pay tribute & to give those within the football club with connections to Noah and his family time and space to grieve & remember him,’ the club said in a statement.

The community effort to search for little Noah has been praised by his family and the police after more than 1,300 dedicated their time to join the operation.

Superintendent Tom Pearse, whose voice cracked when he announced the discovery of the body to the volunteers, said that ‘as a parent, I completely understand why people would want to help.’

He said the response shows ‘the strong sense of community and the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place.’

Noah’s death is not being treated as suspicious, but further enquiries are being completed before a file will be submitted to the coroner.

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