Primary school youngsters raise funds for Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s Blue Skies charity

Lola-Violet Smith, seven, and her pals at Roseacre Primary Academy dressed in purple – to match the colour of World Prematurity Day – after her little sister Lottie-Beau Murphy was born three months early weighing less than a bag of sugar.

The feat landed Lola-Violet, who was also born early, the title of ‘junior fundraiser’ at the Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

The girls’ proud mum Emma, 34, from South Shore, said: “Lottie-Beau and Lola-Violet were very, very poorly and they both nearly died.

“If it wasn’t for the neonatal staff, neither of them would be here. We went to the school and said we wanted to raise some money, and we came up with an own clothes day.”

Emma, who also lives with her partner Chris Murphy, 40, added: “There’s someone in a family somewhere along the line that’s in special care, or knows somebody that’s been in special care. It’s something we really wanted to raise money for.”

Lola-Violet and Lottie-Beau, who weighed in at just 700g and is now nine months old, have ticked off their bronze award in the Blue Skies Young Fundraising Scheme, with littles ones with big hearts encouraged to sign up. Email [email protected] for more information.

Under-fives are urged to hold a superhero fancy dress party or sponsored slide, while juniors are asked to consider a bake sale or sponsored swim.Youngsters aged 11 to 16 could consider hosting a movie night or sponsored gaming marathon.