X Factor winner Sam Bailey is to sell photographs from her baby shower to raise money to help a friend
with two disabled children.
The singer, who is 32 weeks pregnant with her third child, a girl, is to sell pictures of the event, which will see friends celebrating the impending birth with a party and gifts.
Money raised from photo sales to newspapers and magazines will go to help Leanne Blakey-Tew.
Sam and Leanne worked together as prison officers at Gartree prison, near Market Harborough, and have remained friends since the singer quit her job to pursue her X Factor dream.
"Leanne and her husband have two disabled children and I want to get some money to help them out," said Sam, 37. "I'm not doing the whole 'Hello' thing with exclusive pictures, but I hope someone will be interested enough to buy the photographs so I can give the money to Leanne.
"She is totally committed to her kids and this is the least I can do to help."
Leanne, who lives in Corby, Northamptonshire, is having a double extension put on to her home, to include a lift, a wet room and hoists to help her and her husband look after their children, Mia, four, and two-year-old Cory.
The couple care full-time for the youngsters, who both suffer from the rare condition, RARS two mutation mitochondrial epilepsy PCH type six. Although not much is known about the brain condition, it means the children have regular seizures and are unable to walk or hold their heads up. Both are registered blind.
Leanne said: "When Sam told me what she is going to do I nearly cried. It shows how down-to-earth Sam is, even though she is now a big star. It is a lovely gesture."
Leanne said her local council was helping to finance the alterations but they had to raise £11,000 themselves.
"We have actually hit our target for the extension but Sam's money will help us decorate the rooms and make them look special for the children."
Leanne told how she met Sam when they were working on the H wing at Gartree prison. "Sam was great to work with," she said. "She just got on with everything. "Her son, Tommy, was about the same age as my Mia and we would talk about the kids.
"She would also talk about her love of singing. Sam would often be off making a cup of tea and you could hear her singing away as she brewed up.
"When she was on the X Factor we were glued to the television. I am quite an emotional person and I was in floods of tears every week when she got through. When she won, I was a total wreck. She is one in a million.
"This is typical of Sam. She is always thinking of others. She is a lovely, lovely person.
"We will carry on fund-raising for the children as they always need more equipment and therapies not available on the NHS."
To donate to help Leanne's family, go to:
www.facebook.com/pages/ Mia-and-Cory-Blakey-Tew-Blog-Fundraising-Page/147067628707720
