A CENTRE that helped the family of a seriously ill Blackburn toddler is to benefit from part of a £100,000 charity donation.

Shoppers at The Mall Blackburn raised the amount in six months for various charities including the Ronald MacDonald House at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Bosses were compelled to help the hospital after meeting two-year-old Lenia Aman, from Revidge, who was born with Vectral syndrome and Acute Spina Bifida.

Lenia’s mum Leanne Mawdsley, 26, stayed at the free accommodation for two weeks while her daughter recovered after having open heart surgery.

Lenia’s auntie Vickie Mawdsley, 28, who is part of The Mall’s marketing team, held fundraising wrapping services in the shopping centre before Christmas as a 'thank you' to medics.

And her bosses donated some of the the proceeds of their Santa’s Grotto to the cause, taking the total to £2,387.

Vickie said: “The past two years have been extremely upsetting and worrying for the whole family and Lenia has met each challenge with such bravery and determination.

“The support my sister received was second-to-none and I knew I had to do something to repay the hospital and the Ronald MacDonald House for all their efforts.”

She added: “The money will go towards helping other families with sick children at the hospital and I feel very proud that we have done our bit to go some way to thanking them.”

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall Blackburn, thanked all who had given donations.

She said: “We all fell in love with Lenia when she came to The Mall and the decision to donate further funds was a very easy one.

“I know I speak on behalf of every single member of staff here when I say that we wish Lenia all the luck in the world as she continues on her journey to recovery.

“The Mall Cares Campaign is aimed at ensuring local and regional charities receive much needed funding to carry on their work and a grand total of over £100,000 is amazing.”

Other causes helped include Blackburn Youth Zone, East Lancashire Hospice, Breast Cancer Care, SAMS and the Mayor’s charities.