A DAD has been recognised for his incredible contributions to charity and the local community after dedicating his life to fundraising following the death of his son.
After losing his four-year-old son Elliott to a condition called congenital cytomelovirus in 2010, dad-of-three Chris, 44, started the fundraiser Make A Difference Friday.
This sees Chris and helpers collect Terry’s Chocolate Oranges for hospital and medical staff all over the country.
In honour of Elliott, the Alder Hey staff who cared for him and those that offered the family “incredible” bereavement support, the Chocolate Orange collections – which have featured in the Star down the years – are a way of thanking doctors and nurses for their tireless work.
With the campaign snowballing with each passing year, Chris, from Rainford, has now donated more than 100,000 of the chocolate treats to hospital and hospice staff across the country, raising more than £100,000 in funds too.
Additionally, Chris is also the lead fundraiser for the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, and through his work with the DWP, has raised more than £200,000 over the last few years.
In recognition of these amazing efforts, Chris was informed he would be receiving the prestigious award back in 2019.
However, with complications of the pandemic delaying the ceremony until last week, Chris was finally able to share his reward with his family at Liverpool Town Hall on Friday, October 22.
Explaining to the Star last month that his fundraising is his way of turning negatives into positives and keeping Elliott’s memory alive, Chris stated that the award ceremony was a “more personal” affair in Liverpool, where he got to listen to the stories of other winners and celebrate afterwards with his family.
Chris added: “It was a really nice event and great to celebrate with my family, but it was a little bittersweet as we lost my Mum recently, and she was so excited to go to the Palace for the ceremony last May.
"It says my name on the medal but this is dedicated to Alder Hey, St Helens Hospitals, and the Alder Centre, and all of you who helped to put my pieces back together."
With difficulties facing charities because of a lack of fundraising during the pandemic, Chris ensures that he will be once again delivering chocolate oranges to hospitals and hospices this year to personally thank as many staff as possible.
Hoping to hit the ground running early, Chris is asking the community for donations of the chocolate treat to ensure his fundraising reaches as much people as possible. These can be brought to the Town Hall for the fundraising launch on December 10, or dropped off at local collection points.
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