X-Factor star card thrills Paige, 12
ASOUTHPORT schoolgirl was elated after receiving a T-shirt and signed note from X Factor star Danny Tetley.
Paige Reid, 12, was sent the shirt after mum Paula contacted the singer explaining how she was also born with a cleft lip.
And she revealed the Crosby High School pupil was so proud to have the T-shirt she wore it all weekend and chanted his named while the family were out for dinner.
Danny, 37, is a contestant on this year’s series of the talent show and previously appeared on Pop Idol.
Like Paige, he was born with a cleft lip and is now using his profile to raise awareness and funds for the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLPA).
Babies are born with cleft lips when the lips do no fully join together during early pregnancy and it can result in difficulty in feeding and speech problems.
Paige, who has four brothers, needed to be given special bottles and required surgery at just three months old.
Paula contacted Danny on Facebook after he discussed the issue on ITV’s This Morning show and was blown away to receive a response from the singer’s sister saying he wanted to send the T-shirt.
She said: “It shocked me. I just thought I’d send the picture and show it because a lot of other people were on the group.
“She’s worn the T-shirt all weekend. Even, when we were going out for lunch I asked her to get ready and she said she wanted to keep wearing the T-shirt. She’s absolutely made up with it.
“She’s so proud to be wearing it.”
She added: ‘‘I just think he’s an inspiration because he can sing like that but also because he’s still wanting to help others.
“It’s not a well-known problem even though it’s quite common and the CLPA don’t get much credit for what they do.”