Kirkby artist reaches £15k fundraising goal with help from Coronation Street star

Local artist Steve Randall has raised an incredible £15,000 for The Walton Centre Charity through donations and proceeds from his artwork, which includes his latest sale to TV star and old school friend Tony Maudsley. 

53 year old Steve, whose wife Canan is being cared for at The Walton Centre with a slow growing brain tumour, decided to support The Walton Centre Charity in 2018 when he became aware the charity existed. He left his role as a Financial Director to pursue art shortly after Canan’s first surgery in 2014.

He said: “Canan was very clear – paint and raise money for good causes, and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since! I’ve always enjoyed the process of painting and creating works of art; I’m self-taught and never imagined this life for ourselves. Canan knew that this is where I could flourish and also support the work The Walton Centre does. Three years ago I started painting my memories of Kirkby, where I grew up, and hearing Tony speak on the radio recently I decided to paint a piece and dedicate it to him. He noticed the painting ‘Lily the Pink’ on my social media and got in touch.”

The TV star Tony Maudsley, known for playing George Shuttleworth in Coronation Street, reconnected with Steve after growing apart as children. Tony said: “Seeing Steve’s painting on Facebook took me right back to my childhood! When he told me about his art and the work he was doing to support the hospital, I just had to contribute. His work is nostalgic and intriguing, and I’m glad I could help.”

All of the profit from this recent sale will be donated to The Walton Centre, pushing the total Steve has raised for the hospital to over £15,000. Steve said: “I set an overall notional target of £25,000 across all our charity partners, as I wanted to create a legacy Canan could be proud of and appreciate in her lifetime. After all this was all her idea! I’m glad that I can contribute to the amazing work the hospital does in looking after Canan and all the other patients they see.”

Head of Fundraising Madeleine Fletcher said: “I’m so thrilled for Steve! He’s been a fantastic fundraiser for us over the years and we’re incredibly grateful for all of his support. His and Canan’s donations contribute directly to our Home from Home accommodation for relatives of extremely unwell patients, providing respite for loved ones at a very stressful time in their lives. We can’t thank him enough.”

Steve has also produced a book to accompany his painting called ‘Kirkby Chronicles’, with all of the profits being donated to The Walton Centre Charity. He hopes to reach his overall target soon, but his support for the centre won’t stop there. Steve added: "The positivity around this project has really spurred Canan on and we will always support the hospital in any way we can. My studio space is supplied by PARTIA here on the Aintree University Hospital site so I’m never far away if anyone ever wants to contact me and discuss fundraising initiatives."

You can see more of Steve’s art at www.steverandall.art.com, and can be added to the pre-order list for the next print run of his book ‘Kirkby Chronicles’ by emailing k.mottram@aol.com.

You can also find out more about The Walton Centre Charity at www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org    

Watch the ITV Granada Report here: https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-08-23/coronation-street-star-tony-maudsley-backs-liverpool-charity-the-walton-centre

 

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Notes to editors

Further information, or to arrange a visit contact the Communications Team on 0151 556 3397 or email wcf-tr.waltoncentre.communications@nhs.net.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. It has twice been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611