A young girl used her own pocket money to take action after seeing other children suffering in "heart-breaking scenes".
Following news on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Selina Smith's daughter Heidi was moved to tears by the plight of refugees fleeing the war. The nine-year-old instantly asked what she could do to help after seeing videos of children suffering on the news.
Selina, from Huyton, told the ECHO Heidi was "upset" by what she saw and wanted to do her bit to help those suffering. So, while off school ill with tonsillitis, Heidi got to work with her grandmother, determined to make a difference.
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She purchased arts and crafts and made 50 handmade pompom Easter chicks which she planned to sell for £1 each. But thanks to the community support, Heidi raised over £100 - double what she expected.
Selina said: "She was at her nan's while she was off sick with tonsillitis but she so desperately wanted to help after seeing the news. We ended up with over £130 so we went to buy some essential items like food, toiletries and first aid supplies and took them to Roberts Recycling in Huyton.
"These were collected by Polskie Merseyside to then be sent to Ukraine. It was lovely, she was made up. So many donated even if they didn't want a chick."
Heidi has been doing things for different charities since she was five-years-old as her mum said she "always wants to help, being the caring person she is". She has so far raised over £1,000 for different organisations across the region.
Selina added: "She's raised money for the PDSA and during lockdown raised money for Chester Zoo because she didn't want the animals being left out. She's very animal mad and when she's fundraised in the past it's usually been for the animals, but this time she wanted to help other children.
"When she fundraised for the PDSA [The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals] she used her pocket money there to buy a big teddy bear and we did a guess the name of the teddy and then we went up there with the donations as she was able to have a look around.
"She's always asking to raise money for something and I have to say no because we can't keep asking people for money but she just wants to help. She's so caring and we are proud of her."
Heidi was previously the youngest fundraiser the PDSA had ever had, raising over £70. After her visit, Heidi said it was "the best day ever" and has since wanted to help other organisations wherever she can.
