Maryport couple launch Christmas toy appeal for ninth year in row

Wendy Jane and Lee Towers from Maryport launched their Christmas Toy Appeal at the start of this month after almost a decade of the annual drive.

The couple were inspired to start the present drive after becoming foster carers 14 years ago, with Wendy saying there isn't another job that she would rather do than being a foster carer.

She said: "You know when you want to give that little bit back, it's when you see these kids come with nothing, and I mean nothing, this is why we started going it.

"It's nice to give something back to all these little kids that have nothing, just to see their little faces. I couldn't think of any job that I would do I just love being a foster carer."

The couple have cared for 31 foster children over the last 14 years, with them keeping in touch with every child who Wendy says 'have become like family'.

Wendy estimates that there have been over £40,000 worth of toys over the 14 years since the appeal was launched.

People can donate any toy for a boy or girl aged from babies to 16 year olds. Some people choose to bring make-up or gift cards for older children and no present needs to wrapped.

The presents are then distributed around people who need them, with gifts being taking to places such as hospitals and social services

And over the years it has made a huge difference. Wendy said: "Whether it's Whitehaven, or one year we went to Newcastle (hospital) and dropped a load of presents off, one year it was Christmas Eve, some children had just come into care drastically and that was sorted for them.

"It's been great (the response from the public), there is presents that have come from London, Stockport, Birmingham, Workington, Crosby, Maryport they all come from everywhere.

"The public have been amazing, absolutely amazing and the things they bring are just unreal, absolutely unreal.

Presents can be dropped off at the UTC College, Workington and Eddie Shimming's in Maryport.