Stoke-on-Trent fundraiser hosts Christmas lunch for people on their own

A charity fundraiser from Stoke-on-Trent has hosted a Christmas Day lunch for people who are on their own this year after raising £7,000.

Adam Birks has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and said he has already raised thousands of pounds for good causes in the area.

He has fed and entertained 95 people and volunteers through his "No-one Alone at Christmas" campaign.

He said it was upsetting to think of people alone at this time of year.

Those taking part enjoyed a day of festivities with a meal, presents and a choir from 10:00 GMT.

Mr Birks said the day went very well and he dressed up as Father Christmas to hand out presents, joined by the deputy mayor of Stoke-on-Trent.

"Everyone has really enjoyed it, it's gone very well," he said.

"People have been writing messages of thanks on big Christmas baubles. It's been an amazing day."

Mr Birks, who stayed at YMCA facilities when he was a teenager, said he first thought of the event in September.

He said he posted a video to his followers before he spoke to local businesses, started fundraisers and got volunteers signed up

To raise money for the event, he said he recently walked 39 miles (63km) from Stoke-on-Trent railway station to Manchester Piccadilly.

The first 25 miles "were alright" but he said struggled with the final stretch and needed to sit in a wheelchair when he arrived in Manchester.

"It destroyed me, but it raised around £7,000 so it's all worth it," he said.

Kathy Wild, 74, joined the event after she recently lost a son and daughter to cancer and said otherwise she would have been on her own.

"To be invited out for a meal is like winning a cup you know," she said.

"It's a lovely idea and very much appreciated."

Mr Birks also used some of the money he raised towards a "Seven Days of Christmas" charity campaign which he started on 18 December.

He selected seven different charities across Staffordshire who could benefit and helped supply cots for baby and mother units, mattresses and provide food for six homeless people over seven days

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