Cold nights, warm hearts

HELPING the homeless . . . John, Dawn and Lia Igoe

A DYNAMIC mum and teenage daughter are celebrating the launch of a special charity after reaching out to help the homeless.

Dawn and Lia Igoe, from Watersheddings, have learned their group “Cold Nights” has been granted charitable status

Lia (15), a pupil at Blue Coat School, was only 13 when she and her mum started helping the Rucksack Project, which provides food, warm clothes, sleeping bags and toiletries to the homeless at Christmas.

After that the pair slept out on Union Street one freezing night and raised £1,000, which they put towards making up another 30 rucksacks packed with essentials.

They also put some money into a Christmas Day soup-run and launched the Cold Nights Project on Facebook, which rapidly gathered over 1,500 followers and an army of supporters and volunteers.

Now twice a week, assisted by dad and husband John, they load up their car and head to the city to hand out food and hot drinks.

John said their achievements are a credit to his wife and daughter’s incredible kindness: “This started because they really care,” he said.

“Dawn always thinks of others before herself. One day Dawn saw this guy struggling to walk so got came home on the tram and found an old crutch I’d used when I had a bad knee. She got back on the tram and gave it to him.

“I so proud of them both, especially Lia. How many 15 year olds would give up their Friday nights handing out hot drinks? Cold Nights has taken over our lives - but in a good way.”

To donate, visit www.cold-nights.weebly.com.

twitter: @GillPottsOC