Meet the adorable Sunderland siblings bringing smiles to care home residents during lockdown
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Alfie Turley, 11, and Darcie Turley, five, wanted to do something to help others while they were staying home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The siblings from Ryhope came up with the idea of delivering food and essential toiletries to care homes in Wearside as residents have to self-isolate.
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Hide AdAlfie was born at Sunderland Royal Hospital six weeks prematurely in August 2008 and was later diagnosed with a brain condition called hemispheric variant holoprosencephaly.
Doctors told the family that he would never be able to walk or talk, but the Barbara Priestman Academy pupil went on to defy their expectations.
He managed to raised the funds for the care packs by getting mum Lizzie Turley to throw eggs at him in a sponsored challenge during the Easter holidays.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, his little sister Darcie, a pupil at Ryhope Infants, held online raffles to raise further funds through sponsorship.
Together they raised £195 and sent dad Ryan, 34, to Home Bargains to buy the supplies.
With the help of mum Lizzie, 31, the family then dropped off the packs at Haddington Vale in Doxford Park, Sycamore Care Centre in Pennywell, Thornbury Care Home in Thorney Close and Archers Court in Farringdon – where their auntie Julie Fox is a carer.
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Hide AdLizzie, who is also mum to son John-Joe, 13, said: “Alfie has quite a few health problems because of his condition.
“He can only walk a few steps and suffers with anxiety but he said that he wanted to help other people during this difficult time.
“He decided to make up care packs for people who can’t get out.
“The care homes were over the moon with the packs when we dropped them off and the kids couldn’t believe that they had made people smile.”