A MUM who set up a children's charity in her baby daughter's name said "I think we have done her proud" as the cause has helped more youngsters than ever before.

Lagan's Foundation was set up 11 years ago in memory of Lagan Katherine Anne Grant who died at just 15 weeks after being born with complex congenital heart defects.

The Bolton News: Carers at the heart charity Lagan's Foundation.

(Team: Lagan's Foundation, Carren Bell, second from right)

The foundation provides support for families whose child has a congenital heart defect and/ or struggles with feeding in their own home. Demand for its services means it helps families across the country.

Lagan’s Foundation has upped the number of sick children they help – by a staggering 89 per cent.

The Horwich based charity, which spends hours in the homes of children and young people with heart conditions, has safely continued their life-saving service during the whole of Covid – even when faced with a lack of PPE.

Carren Bell, mum of Lagan, said: "There was simply no way that we were going to let down people in desperate need. We made ourselves adaptable to change and remembered where our friends were – and in the case of PPE that was the people of Bolton, who so generously donated to our cause to help us stay safe.”

Carren said the foundation's work was even more vital during lockdown, which brought extra pressures on families .

She said: “The whole period has made me think about the most important question as far as a charity is concerned. Why are we doing this?

"My mind goes back to the pain I endured ten years ago, the isolation, the lack of support for any parent leaving the bubble of hospital and with the prospect of caring for a desperately sick child, alone. And there is the memory of baby Lagan, in whose name we do our work. I think we’ve done her proud.”

Learn more about Lagan’s Foundation and fundraise to help their work, by going online to https://lagans.org.uk/