Woman's Easter egg appeal saw that no child in Alder Hey went without

Suzanne Highcock from St Helens town centre was ‘heartbroken’ at the thought of children who are poorly waking up on Easter without having an Easter egg or present, after her friends Josh Dyer and Rachel Burchall, who are currently living in the hospital with their daughter said less had been donated this year.

Josh and Rachel’s daughter Alana- is only 21 months and has undergone three open heart surgeries already and is currently awaiting a heart transplant, meaning the family are based at the hospital full time.

Rachel and Josh in the middle holding children Alana and Vinnie (Image: Rachel and Josh in the middle holding children Alana and Vinnie)

Suzanne, 35, said: “I got told by them that Alder Hey had received half the amount of Easter egg deliveries they usually get this year and it left me heartbroken and I made it my mission to sort something out.

“We know Josh and Rachel as Josh was teammates with my partner Scott [Lyon] at Blackbrook Rugby Club so the club got involved doing a collection for me, as did JC’s Boxing Gym and a Rugby club in Wigan as that’s where Josh and Rachel live.

“People did drop offs to my house too and Josh and Rachel couldn’t believe it when I dropped them all off at the hospital, I’m surprised I fitted them all in my car, the hospital have to bring crates out for me to put them in.”

Alana with one of her nurses and her Easter egg (Image: Alana with one of her nurses and her Easter egg)

As well as Easter eggs, Suzanne got Easter crafts and cuddly easter teddies for younger children or those not able to eat chocolate.

She said: “I’m really proud of it to be honest, though I never want to see another Easter Egg again, for a while anyway.

“But if kids woke up and had something and their parents didn’t need to worry about that on top of everything else then that’s all worth it really.

“The response from St Helens was amazing, it was unbelievable.”