A nine-year-old fundraiser called Elliott Furse, appeared on ITV’s This Morning today to officially turn on the festive lights at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort and launch Christmas at the Resort. Elliott, who lives with his family in Gurval, started ‘Elliott’s Christmas Appeal’ in 2018 when he began donating his presents to sick children in hospital and has continued every Christmas even though he has since been diagnosed with a brain tumour himself. Today he was surprised by presenter Alison Hammond on ITV’s This Morning and surrounded by a ‘mischief’ of Christmas elves, was asked to hit the big red button and switch on the festive lights on the Resort’s 10-metre-tall Christmas tree built using 364,481 LEGO® and DUPLO® bricks.
INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG FUNDRAISER LAUNCHES ‘CHRISTMAS AT LEGOLAND®’ WITH OFFICIAL FESTIVE LIGHT SWITCH ON
- The incredible young fundraiser, nine-year-old, Elliott Furse, was invited to switch on the Christmas lights across the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
- Elliott made the news in 2018 when he donated his Christmas presents to children in hospital and continued his selflessness even after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020
- Elliott and his family appeared on ITV’s This Morning with Alison Hammond and were treated to a VIP trip to the Resort where they were given festive gifts for Elliott’s charity appeal and access to the rides
Thursday 25th November: An inspirational nine-year-old fundraiser from Cornwall, today appeared on ITV’s This Morning to officially turn on the festive lights and launch Christmas at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort.
Elliott Furse, who lives with his family in Gurval, started ‘Elliott’s Christmas Appeal’ in 2018 when he began donating presents to sick children in hospital and has continued every Christmas since being diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2020.
Today he was surprised by presenter Alison Hammond on ITV’s This Morning and surrounded by a mischief of Christmas elves, was asked to hit the big red button and switch on the festive lights on the Resort’s 10-metre-tall Christmas tree built using 364,481 LEGO® and DUPLO® bricks.
Elliott was surprised with a VIP stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel and exclusive access to enjoy some of the rides whilst the park was closed with LEGO MYTHICA’s Flight of the Sky Lion and LEGO City Driving School where he was awarded his first ever LEGOLAND driving licence! Elliott also received £1,000 worth of LEGO to donate this Christmas plus an array of exclusive sets to enjoy himself.
Speaking about his trip Elliott, said: “The surprise made me feel really amazing and special, I couldn’t believe I got to do all that I did. It was like a dream come true”.
Elliott’s mum, Samantha added: “Everything was so perfect! The staff were so wonderful, and we are already planning another trip back next year. Elliott was absolutely thrilled and described the whole experience as a ‘dream come true’. We can’t thank everyone enough – you’ve really made his Christmas even more special!”
In 2020, Elliott was diagnosed with a brain tumour and has undergone two major operations in that time. A truly brave boy, the treatment left Elliott without control of his arm, legs and speech but following rehabilitation from the team at Bristol Children’s Hospital, Elliott regained his speech and dexterity and immediately started planning his Christmas fundraising.
Elliott currently fundraises via Facebook and his family will be registering ‘Elliott’s Community Fundraising’ as an official charity in the new year.
Helen Bull, Divisional Director at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, added: “Everyone across the Resort was in complete agreement that Elliott was the perfect person to switch on our Christmas lights. He is a true inspiration to us all. It was our pleasure to welcome him to the park and have him officially mark the start of Christmas at LEGOLAND by turning on our Christmas lights.”
LEGOLAND at Christmas runs from 27 November 2021 to 3 January 2022, complete with twinkling lights, snow dusted trees and a sprinkling of LEGO magic throughout the theme park.
