RETIRED businessman, Gordon Crosby has contacted the Star to say a huge thank-you to everyone who donated to an appeal which has enabled a young African boy to walk for the first time.

Gordon, formerly owner of Grosvenor House Menswear, and his wife Connie have spent almost 12 years helping to raise money for various community projects in a remote area in Kenya.

During that time they have set up appeals for a village water pump which is now installed, a new roof for the Mija-Wa-Salami Orphanage which has since been built and last year, an appeal to raise enough money for the then eight-year-old Daniel, who was born severely crippled, to undergo an operation which would enable him to walk.

Gordon, of Howards Lane, Eccleston, told the Star: "Once again, we were overwhelmed with the response from members of the public. We started it last year when Connie and I were still running the shop. The 'Pennies from Heaven' appeal for the orphanage was already going well so we decided to extend it to get help for Daniel and we were inundated with offers."

Daniel, who is now 10, needed operations to straighten both his legs at a cost of about £6,000 and had these at a Mombasa hospital at the end of last year.

Gordon added: "Our dream was that Daniel should be able to walk into the new Millennium and I am delighted to say that, through the generosity of St Helens people and local churches, it has happened! My son was amazed when he went over to Kenya earlier this year to check on his progress. Daniel is on crutches at present but he is already able to take some steps on his own and soon he will be able to walk completely unaided. We now have a video recording of him which I am planning to show at various churches who supported the appeal so that people can see how worthwhile their donations have been."

However, the fund-raising hasn't finished yet. Gordon added: "Daniel also has very deformed hands although he does manage to write with them. But similar operations will improve these as well and we now want to raise the money to pay for these.

"We have also promised his family to help them raise money to cover his school fees -- it costs £100 a year but he is a very bright child and loves learning so some of the money we raise will be used to fund that. We are also still helping the Mija-Wa-Salami Orphanage so we still welcome people's help."

Anyone who has any pennies they would like to donate can hand them in to Howard's Opticians in Duke Street.