A SEVEN-year-old boy who had an ‘instant bond’ with his beloved grandma donated £80 of his pocket money to the East Lancashire Hospice after she passed away.

Schoolboy Garratt Dixon, from Baxenden, saved up the cash, which was given to him by his grandma Liz and for birthdays and Christmas, for around two-and-a-half years. He made the donation at the hospice’s recent Sunflower Day.

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Liz Dixon, 60, died two months ago from lung cancer. Since then her daughter Laura and the rest of the family have done a number of charity events raising £6,500 for the hospice.

Garratt’s mum Nicola said he would stay at his grandma’s house in Mellor with his four-year-old sister Reya.

“Garratt and his grandma were really close. He liked to have sleepovers there and it was always about going to the fridge to get the chocolate,” she said.

“Her face lit up every time they came to her house. They had an instant bond.”

She said Garratt made a book of photos and memories which was put in his grandma’s coffin.

“His grandma had been in the hospice and they were amazing.

“We had all been raising money for the hospice by doing a colour run and charity night and we closed the justgiving page on Liz’s birthday on August 18. Garratt’s contribution was pretty amazing.”

The 41-year-old said Garratt knew his grandma was poorly.

“He had started to make the connection with the hospice.

“He knew where his money was going. He said it was for the poorly people and he had made that connection with his grandma.

“We have been taking him to her grave and he understands that he will not see her again.”

Mrs Dixon said Garratt met with the chairman of the hospice who explained where the money would be spent.

“What he did was astonishing. He had been saving the money up and whenever he got to £5 he would ask to swap it for a note.

“When he went to his grandma’s she would give him some money and it came from birthdays and Christmas.

“He has got such a big heart and he is so caring and sensitive.”