PARENTS of children who have undergone heart surgery have enjoyed an incredible response after posting a social media advent calendar of their children online.

Team 1C is made up of parents of youngsters who have had treatment on that ward at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Their fundraising has helped fund a surgeon to attend camps abroad – which saved the lives of 93 children.

Now they have turned their festive attention to also helping the hospital's Ronald McDonald House, which provides free accommodation to parents whose children are patients at the hospital.

Each day in December the group have been sharing a picture and the story of a child treated at Alder Hey and whose families accessed Ronald McDonald House.

So far they have raised £1,605 with another 13 days left to go.

Lead of the Team 1C Claire Cathcart, whose three-year-old son Jake was born with a high, irregular heart rate and treated at the hospital, said: "We have raised funds for camps and saved 93 lives so far and that should be 100 by January when we fund another camp – so we wanted to do something to thank the Ronald McDonald House for everything they do, especially this time of year.

"The idea is that everyday we post a picture of a different kid whose family used Mac House and share their stories.

"Some of them aren't here anymore and some are so it's great to share their stories. The response has been amazing.

"It has absolutely blown us away, because these places are godsends to parents in a horrible situation and they are funded by donations.

"It keeps families together and a room costs £25 a night, so you can imagine how much this money will help people.

"We can't thank everyone enough for donating – I know many more are waiting for their child's date on the advent to donate too, so watch this space because we should be raising even more."