CHILDREN showed their love for a local charity on Valentine’s Day.

The kind-hearted youngsters at Horwich Parish CE Primary School dressed in red yesterday to mark CHD — congential heart defect — Awareness Week and raise money for Lagan’s Foundation, a charityset up last year in memory of a Bolton baby who died from the condition.

Now Lagan’s parents, who founded the charity, are hoping local people will also show their support by raising money or signing up to be volunteers to help families which have children with CHD and/or feeding difficulties, which Lagan suffered.

Lagan Katherine Anne Grant was born in January 11 last year and died on April 26 due to complex congenital heart defects.

Parents Carren Bell and Barry Grant, from Horwich, hope the foundation can help to provide respite care within the child’s home and to ensure families have the confidence to demand services they are entitled to.

Miss Bell, who is pregnant and has a daughter, Ceridwen, aged nine, said: “We are already being contacted by families and need volunteers who can give at least two hours a week, although we would take into account holidays.

“The volunteers need to be aged 18 or over and would suit those in a caring profession or are training to go into that profession, and need experience in the community.”

Volunteers will be trained at Alder Hey Hospital.

Fundraising events have been organised, including a fashion show on Saturday, March 10, at 7pm at Horwich Leisure Centre by Simply Be for sizes 12-to-32 at discounted prices. A walk of remembrance will take place in April from Alder Hey Hospital to the Reebok Stadium.

Miss Bell, aged 32, said: “We would like businesses and schools to think about Lagan’s Foundation when they fundraise.

It is a local and small charity, so it does not get the big corporate sponsors.

“There is no charity doing what the foundation is doing, in helping parents practically and emotionally, but we are determined to fill this need.”

For more information on how to get involved, visit lagans.org.uk.