PEOPLE of Bolton are being asked to draw on the town's proud cotton history to stop a charity which looks after children with complex conditions from coming apart at the seams.

Lagan's Foundation is appealing for volunteers to step forward and stitch together much need face masks and aprons.

The charity— set up in memory of a baby girl from Horwich ­— provides essential help for parents whose children have heart and other conditions.

But the coronavirus pandemic means that Lagan’s Foundation needs PPE ­— personal protective equipment ­— such as face masks and aprons to be able to continue their care.

And the charity does not qualify for any state support, with fundraising events cancelled, the organisation is low on money to purchase the equipment needed.

Carren Bell founded the charity after her daughter Lagan died from a congenital heart condition.

She said:”We have been given a huge list of what appropriate equipment is required to continue our care for severely ill children.

“That task has not even been straightforward for the NHS, who have had to source PPE from all kinds of quarters.

"The list of requirements may be daunting but actually the process of making effective scrubs is not difficult for a talented seamstress or seamster, and there are many online guides available.”

The charity provides support for parents with poorly children, including a child called Ben, who had a cardiac arrest literally hours into his young life.

Numerous visits to hospital took their toll on his parents but Lagan’s carers offered vital respite support and now he is described as, “a healthy, thriving little boy who is full of life and brings us joy even on his grumpiest days”.

Carren said: “Bolton’s whole history is built upon cotton and I cannot believe there are not some very skilled people out there who could create the effective personal protection equipment our band of carers needs.

“Perhaps you are in lockdown and feeling helpless? Well, don’t sit on your hands, use them to create effective scrubs and know that your efforts will be appreciated by our charity, the children and young people we serve and the parents we support.”

The foundation was established in memory of Lagan Katherine Anne Grant who died in 2011 at just 15 weeks after being born with complex congenital heart defects.

To donate PPE or money to Lagan’s, please contact 01204 800300 email info@lagans.org.uk or visit https://lagans.org.uk/