THE smile on young Daniel Kioko's face says it all as he stands on his own two feet for the first time in his life.

The nine-year-old Kenyan boy was born with a crippling condition and could only walk on his knees. But now he is undergoing major leg surgery - thanks to big-hearted St Helens people who have helped raise £4,500 to cover the medical costs.

The appeal was started four months ago by local businessman Gordon Crosby who, with his wife Connie, has visited Kenya a number of times and helped raise £12,500 towards local charities, including a local orphanage and a water pump.

Gordon, owner of Grosvenor House Menswear in Duke Street until his retirement, met Daniel on another visit earlier this year. He said: "One day we were taken to a nearby village where Daniel lived with his family and we were disturbed to see him walk everywhere on his knees. We were told he had been born like this but that an expensive operation would cure him. So we decided to help."

He added: "The amount is a tribute to the generosity of local people and we couldn't have done anything without their donations. Thanks to everyone who gave, Daniel has already had one operation at the Moranga Hospital in Mombasa and early next year he will have orthopaedic surgery at the Aga Khan Clinic Hospital. Then he should be able to walk tall into the next Millennium on his own two feet."

Despite Gordon's retirement, the 'Pennies from Heaven Appeal' for Daniel and the orphanage will be continuing and anyone with donations is asked to drop them off at Howard's Opticians next door to Grosvenor House.

Gordon added: "I am very grateful to Len Marlow at Howard's who has offered to receive the donations on my behalf."

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