JACK Whitehall phoned up a schoolboy to congratulate him for dangling off a cliff for 24 hours to raise money to buy Christmas presents for sick children.
Daniel MacDiarmid - known as Shrimpy - was inspired after watching the comedian performing a similar feat on television.
He spent the night hanging 115ft above the ocean on the Pembrokeshire coast with his 18-year-old brother Calvin.
The Lewes Old Grammar School pupil's stunt raised more than £5,500 – including £1,000 from the comedian himself.
He also received a FaceTime from Jack Whitehall after the TV star was able to track Daniel down through the school’s headmaster.
The 13-year-old's dad, also called Daniel, said: "We were already amazed to see Jack had pledged £1,000 and then Lewes Old Grammar contacted us to ask if they could pass on Shrimpy’s details for Jack to Facetime.
“He was really funny and revealed that when he had done the challenge on the same Pembrokeshire coast as my boys, he hadn’t actually lasted the whole night like Shrimpy and Calvin had as it was too scary.
“He also invited him to come along and meet him when his postponed Brighton show takes place in the new year. Shrimpy can’t wait."
Shrimpy has been fundraising for Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice in Angmering since the age of nine.
Each year, he takes on a different challenge which have included cycling from Brighton to Portsmouth, zip wiring, abseiling and BMX stunts.
His dad added: “We have been out and bought so many presents for the hospice and it has meant so much to Shrimpy to see how excited they are to receive them.
“Jack has already volunteered to get behind his next challenge – we just have to think what it will be now.”
Each year after his challenges, Shrimpy and his parents go on a mammoth shopping spree to buy hundreds of gifts for children at this hospice.
The teenager has raised more than £11,000 through his challenges to date.
Shrimpy said the inspiration behind the annual fundraisers was an unexpected trip to hospital for an operation at the age of four.
“While I was there, I saw a lot of really poorly children and I thought about how I could help,” he said.
“This challenge was pretty scary. It was dark and noisy and although we were wrapped up warm we were being buffeted by 50mph gusts of winds.
“We were so frightened we nearly called it off at about 4am but thinking about being able to buy all those presents for the hospice helped us get through it.”
Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice community fundraiser Martin Styring said generosity like that from Daniel makes children’s hospice care possible.
“It costs Chestnut Tree House over £4 million every year to provide hospice care for children in Sussex and South East Hampshire and very little of this comes from central government,” he said.
“It is thanks to support from individuals and businesses – donating, fundraising, visiting our charity shops – that children and families have the chance to live life to the full and say goodbye in the way that is right for them.
“Daniel’s kindness and ongoing support for Chestnut Tree House and the children we care for is inspiring.”
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