The Come Together Christmas Appeal has been backed by the likes of Tony Bellow, Jamie Carragher and Paul Smith
Mark Scanlon and mum Diane, who are spearheading the Come Together Christmas Appeal (Image: Mark Scanlon)
The man behind a widespread Christmas appeal said the “need has never been greater” with thousands of families to receive toys and gift cards. Former MMA fighter Mark Scanlon, 42, told the ECHO that the Come Together Christmas Appeal, which he spearheads with his mum Diane, 60, is expected to help 6,000 families this December due to the “amazing support” of the city of Liverpool.
The appeal, in its sixth year, has expanded significantly with more people than ever in need of help this Christmas. Mark told the ECHO: “Every year it gets worse – interest rates, debt, the cost of living. More and more people need support. If you aren’t involved in it you would not believe it. There are so many people struggling.”
The appeal is working with over 40 different support centres across Merseyside, up from 25 last year, who help people ranging from parents with young children to women at risk of domestic abuse. Mark said each year the centres provide the appeal with a list of who they are supporting and what items they need.
He said: “We do our best to meet the needs of every centre,” by working with local businesses to raise donations which are put towards gift cards, electricity and gas cards and food shops. Around 100 local businesses are also supporting the appeal as drop-off locations where people can donate toys, books and other gifts.
Mark told the ECHO: “I normally leave it to the last minute and don’t start until the last week of November. We started it in the first week of November this year and it’s gone bonkers.”
The appeal is also working in partnership with three local restaurants – Duke Street Market, the Lake House at Crosby Marina and Smithdown Road’s Spitroast – who are all allowing customers the chance to make an extra donation at the end of their meal towards the fundraising efforts.
The Come Together Christmas Appeal team(Image: Mark Scanlon)
The appeal has received the backing of a number of Merseyside celebrities including former boxer Tony Bellow, MMA star Paddy “the Baddy” Pimblett, footballer Jamie Carragher, comedian Paul Smith, social media’s Stillryan and radio host Leanne Campbell. Other local backers include Taskers, Central Waste and Awake Liverpool.
Mark got involved with the project after speaking to a friend who provided free meals at Christmas for in-need children. Since then he has run the appeal with his mum out of the Alkafuel on Derby Lane in Old Swan, which acts as the main drop-off hub.
He added: “Last year we supported 3,000 families. This year it will be double, all from a little shop. There will be some long days, I’ll literally be out of the door at 7am and won’t get home until 10pm. At the end of next week we will be out in the vans dropping off all the presents and gift cards at the centres. We will get it done.”
Mark expects the appeal to reach around £100,000 in support with one goal in mind: that every child on Merseyside will wake up to a present on Christmas morning.
He said the “amount of support has been amazing” and he gets emotional seeing how people from all over Merseyside are supporting the campaign.
He said: “I literally burst into tears last year seeing the response. People come up to me every day and give me some money and say ‘this is for your appeal’.
“Liverpool is a special place. When times are hard, there is no city on the planet that comes together the way the people of Liverpool do. It’s just the city working together.”
You can donate to the Come Together Christmas Appeal here and read more about where you can donate gifts here.