A woman was left "in tears" as she pledges to help her community this Christmas.
Despite battling her own health issues, litter picking hero Christine Keen has found another way to help her community and those in need. Christine can be regularly seen picking up rubbish at Jubilee Park in Huyton, but last month she spent her time also completing an impressive fundraiser.
During October, she walked the equivalent of five marathons - over 131 miles and over 300,000 steps - litter picking and collecting donations all to help out families during the cost of living crisis. As a result, the 67-year-old raised an impressive £1,300 for KIND, a charity that works with thousands of young people across Merseyside.
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Christine, who has a leaking artery in her heart, a blood clot in her neck and ongoing issues with Long Covid, has been in and out of hospital as "every day is a struggle". But determined to help others, she embarked on her journey and has been left in tears by the response.
She told the ECHO: "When I had the idea to raise money, I was put in touch with KIND and they sent me everything I needed. My aim was to raise £400 for their Christmas appeal which would've made four food parcels but it just snowballed.
"People were coming up to me in the park handing me money and supporting me. But as well, people are now using the bins because they've seen me doing it and the kids have really taken to it. Everyone has been so nice.
"With the way things are going now, charities like this are going to be needed more. This winter will break people, not just those on lower wages, but middle wages as well. So many will suffer.
"I'm gobsmacked that people have been so kind. I don't know what to do next but something really needs to be done in the community. Parents aren't going to be able to take their kids out, they will be sitting there wondering how they can afford presents."
After taking the donations to KIND last week, Christine said she was in tears as she added: "People are struggling. Can you imagine a one parent family on low income sitting there thinking how are we going to afford Christmas?
"I cried, meeting the kids, they were so lovely, they said well done and they clapped for me. To see these little kids smiling, it was worth the struggle. It's fantastic what this charity does and I came away feeling happy.
"I don't know their situation but these kids were enjoying themselves and it was a beautiful experience. They are hoping to do 1,500 Christmas parcels this year but they understand that it's a struggle so every little helps.
"Huyton gets a lot of bad press but I can vouch for the number of hardworking, devoted people. They may not be able to afford to give but they shared my posts and encouraged me. Don't tar people with the same brush, I even had young kids helping me litter pick.
"It was hard work, I have to stop every quarter of a mile to sit and get my breath back. I couldn't do it all at once but I'm gobsmacked at the support and generosity."
The donations include a contribution from litter enforcement company National Enforcement Solutions as well as tip donations from local businesses and generous donations from friends and family. Stephen Yip, Chief Executive of KIND said: "Thanks to Christine’s vision and determination, we shall between us make Christmas a great deal happier and less stressful for thousands of children and their families from across our community this Christmas.
"The food hampers, toy parcels and clothing will all enable our children to have a Christmas to remember and not one to forget. Perhaps as important as the material gifts is the families knowing that others in their community do care about them and their problems at this very special time of the year."
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