Clatterbridge Cancer Charity needs your help to build a Lego hospital

As part of its Big Lego Brick Hospital fundraising campaign, the public can buy one of the popular toy bricks for a £1 donation.

The aim is to build a 1.6mx2.8mx1.6m high replica of the specialist hospital which is currently being built in Liverpool city centre.

The Lego campaign was launched by Wirral Olympic gold medallist, TV presenter and one-time I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here ... contestant Sam Quek MBE, along with young cancer patients Reece Holt, 12, and Taylor Seddon, eight.

The trio was presented miniature models of themselves to mark the occasion.

Urging our readers to support the appeal, Sam told the Globe: "Clatterbridge has always been close to my heart; I've had friends and family pass through there.

"What the centre gives to not just the patients, but their families, is just remarkable.

"I have been a supporter for a long time, so it's more than my pleasure to be able to build the foundations for this Lego fundraising project."

Experts from Bright Bricks, home to Duncan Titmarsh, the UK's only Lego-certified professional, will oversee the model building project and train an army of local enthusiasts to work on the structure.

Funds raised from The Big Lego Brick Hospital campaign will go to the charity's £15million appeal for its new cancer hospital, due to open in 2019, and also pay for improvements at the Wirral site. 

On the planned new building in Liverpool, Sam continued: "The building is really important for people across the Northwest.

"The facilities at Clatterbridge are fantastic; it's a hub for people to get treatment and support and feel comfortable.

"So if we can build another one of those over in Liverpool; a new facility, a bigger establishment, it will be of great benefit to patients and families.

"If we can work together – and Merseyside does so well in this – I think we can raise enough money to reach the £15m fundraising target and smash it out of the park.

"Even if it's just one, two, three, 10 or 100 Lego bricks you can go into town and see it being built and what you have achieved as an individual for the charity and the new hospital in Liverpool."

The appeal has special signifance for Reece Holt, from Morecambe, who was treated at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre after surgery for a brain tumour.

He helped staff design a Lego replica of a radiotherapy machine to help other children at the hospital to understand their treatment.

His mum Rachel said: "Lego bricks played a big part in Reece's treatment and his recovery from surgery, particularly his co-ordination and motor skills.

"We are thrilled to be here today to lay the first Lego bricks and be part of this.

"The new hospital will be a fantastic facility and will help patients like Reece and their families.

"This is a great way to raise money towards the appeal to build it."

Taylor Seddon, from Burscough in Lancashire, was treated with radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

His dad Jeff said: “Taylor is a big Lego fan and we know it helps children who are starting radiotherapy understand what is happening, so it is great that the charity are using it in this way to raise money for the new hospital.

“You never know when you will need Clatterbridge. We didn’t think we would. The staff were fantastic with Taylor and we would urge everyone to get behind this campaign, buy a brick and help build a new hospital for local people with cancer.”

Katrina Bury, head of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: "We are delighted to be working with Bright Bricks on this exciting project, one of the biggest Lego structures in the UK.

“Building a Lego brick replica of our new cancer hospital in Liverpool is an ambitious project but we are sure our dedicated supporters and the people of the region will support us with enthusiasm and generosity.”

To support the campaign, visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/clatterbridgecc/legobrick or www.clatterbridgecc.org.uk