A schoolgirl who was so worried that "Santa wouldn't come" to the ill children in hospital, decided to take action.
When Heidi Smith was visiting her cousin Sadie at Alder Hey's oncology ward, she suddenly wondered how the sick children there would experience Christmas and whether Father Christmas knew "how to get to the hospital". Mum Selina, from Huyton, said the nine-year-old was fretting that much, she decided to take action herself.
Now, the Malvern Primary student is asking for donations to "bring Christmas to them". Selina said: "Heidi had seen all the poorly children going through chemotherapy and she was so worried that Santa wouldn't know his way to the hospital.
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"She's been doing this for four years now and every year she says the same so we are asking people to donate gifts and we will take them down to the hospital. This year, everyone is in the same boat, it's a struggle for everyone and we completely understand that."
Around six years ago, Heidi's cousin Sadie Maddison, now 11, was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called ITP. Around six years ago, she came out in a "giant jet black bruise" that the family originally thought was ink.
After a "horrendous wait" fearing it could be leukaemia, Sadie's condition means her blood does not clot and she can spontaneously bleed. Selina added: "She's extremely tired and gets headaches, she gets moody and every day is a battle. She can't do sports but she manages it really well, every day is a challenge."
Now, having to go for weekly tests at Alder Hey's oncology ward, Heidi sometimes joins her, but despite the struggles, the pair want to bring Christmas joy to others. Selina told the ECHO: "We are all really proud.
"We've tried to explain to them why this year may be difficult as the donations are lower than usual and they are getting panicked. They just want other children to be happy and have something to wake up to on Christmas. But we still have time, the cut off date is December 3.
"Heidi is always fundraising, she thinks of everyone all the time. Even her school has said she needs to think of herself a bit more, she's always looking for something or someone to help. Alder Hey gets a lot of donations but sometimes that ward can get forgotten about."
Heidi is no stranger to fundraising as she is constantly thinking of things she can do for other causes. Earlier this year, Heidi was moved to tears by the plight of refugees fleeing the war when the nine-year-old instantly asked what she could do to help after seeing videos of children suffering on the news.
Having raised funds since she was just five-years-old, she has raised over £1,000 for different organisations and causes right across the region and beyond, including the PDSA and Chester Zoo. The young girl has also won a kindness award in school for her continued selfless dedication.
Anyone wishing to donate to Heidi's Christmas fundraiser can drop gifts of at Malvern Primary School, Selina said.
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