MORE THAN 11,000 donated chocolate oranges were stacked up in the town hall assembly room this morning, ready to be delivered to hospitals and hospices in memory of Elliott Lamb.

Chris Lamb, 41, started Make A Difference Friday eight years ago in memory of his son Elliott Lamb, who died aged four in 2010 just before Christmas from the condition congenital cytomegalovirus.

Watch an interview with Chris, from Rainford, below

Those to turn out to show their support to Chris before he left to distribute the treats included deputy mayoress of St Helens, Cllr Janet Johnson and actor Michael Parr.

Watch an interview with Michael Parr below

Pupils from several primary schools across the borough were on hand to spread some festive cheer by singing Christmas carols on stage.

Set up in 2011, the appeal has seen well over 30,000 chocolate oranges collected which all started as a light-hearted joke between Chris and hospital staff when he bought a chocolate orange as a thank you to one of the physiotherapists for their kindness, care and compassion when Elliot was in hospital.

 

Word soon got around among other medical professionals, and Chris ended up buying more and more every time Elliott was in hospital.

Following Elliot’s death, Chris decided he wanted to do something positive to cherish his memory, and so came up with the idea of collecting as many chocolate oranges to be shared with hospital staff nationwide.

Chris said: “I just want to say thank you to St Helens Council and all our supporters because this year has been a record year.

 

“We’ve collected about 11,000 Chocolate Oranges and we’re going to deliver them to doctors and nurses all over the country, because they are the people who make a difference to our lives.

“So thank you to them, at Christmas, in memory of Elliott."

The Steve Prescott Bridge will also be lit orange this evening.