Mum lighting up Blackpool Tower in Callum's memory

.Today (October 9) would have been son Callum’s 10th birthday and, more than eight years on from his death at just 17 months, Leah has chosen to mark the occasion by lighting up the seafront landmark in his name.

The cost of the gesture was quickly covered by a funding appeal which just took a couple of days to meet and the 27-year-old is delighted to have the opportunity to proclaim her everlasting love for her very special boy.

As thousands of visitors pass along the Promenade to admire the Illuminations tonight, the Tower will shine red, yellow and black in Callum’s memory between 7 and 9pm, reflecting the love he – even at such a young age – and his mum had for Manchester United FC.

“It’s such a big occasion,” said Leah. “His 10th birthday, turning double figures – I just felt I had to do something special to mark the day and the chance to light up the Tower is ideal.

“People really rallied round to help with the few hundred pounds it cost and I’m so grateful to them and to the people at the Tower for the opportunity to do this.

“But it came about by chance.

“On previous birthdays, we have just gone to his gravestone and remembered him quietly but I was thinking of how we could mark the 10 years when a guy I passed while walking within sight of the Tower one day said he used to work there and how it was available to be lit up.

“I looked online, found the details, my funding appeal was met within a couple of days and it’s going to happen. It will be such a special feeling.”

Leah, who lives in South Shore, has had two other sons in the years since the loss of Callum – Dylan is aged five and Lucas, one – but despite having her hands full looking after them, she says the memories of Callum never fade.

“I still think about him every day and no-one can ever replace him,” she said.

“He was my first born and will always have a very special place in my heart.

“I’ll never forget that day I went to wake him and he didn’t respond - all these years on

“His loss has left me with anxiety and I still miss him so deeply and always will.”

Following Callum’s death, Blackpool businessman Stephen Pierre read of it The Gazette and offered to help Leah and her family raise money for a headstone for the youngster.

A fancy dress walk along and raffles and donations from Mr Pierre’s businesses, which included Nellie Dean’s bar at the time as well as The Galleon, raised the £1,137 required for the stone at Lytham Cemetery prepared by Wyre Memorials.

Mr Pierre said: “I was delighted to help at the time and it’s lovely to hear that the Tower is to be lit up tonight in Callum’s memory.

“Being a victim of cot death is any parent’s worst nightmare and is something which continues to baffle medical experts.

“I was touched by Leah’s courage and her wish to raise awareness of the cot death phenomenon.

“It was lovely that people came together to help and I hope the headstone helped provide some comfort.

“Hopefully the Tower light-up and Callum’s story will continue to raise awareness of something which can happen to anyone.”