A SPECIAL helper has been called on to turn on Kenilworth’s Christmas lights this year.
Alfie Dingley, along with mum Hannah Deacon, is doing the honours for the festive switch-on, following a lengthy battle to treat his severe epilepsy with medical cannabis.
The seven-year-old suffers from a rare strain of epilepsy, which without the medicine, can cause up to 30 seizures a day.
Hannah said: “We are thrilled to be asked to do it. Alfie has been through so much in his short life so to be asked to do something so exciting is really, truly thoughtful of the mayor of Kenilworth.”
The youngster’s landmark case influenced the recent legalisation of cannabis for medical treatment though faced another battle to have it prescribed. Hannah has since launched a campaign to have restrictions on its provision lifted. Nearly 460,000 people have signed.
‘Much-loved’ resident June Clifford will be joining them for the switch-on. She has worked at the local Tesco for over 25 years and was described as one of the town’s ‘friendliest faces’ by Kenilworth Lights Committee chair Richard Hales.
The event takes place on Sunday (December 2) at 6.30pm on Warwick Road.
