Brothers give up chocolate so they can buy Christmas sweets for children whose families rely on food banks

Joey Wormald (left) and older brother Alfie gave up chocolate throughout October so they they could raise money to buy treats for less fortunate children over Christmas

Alfie and Joey Wormald, aged just seven and six, told their parents they wanted to give something back to children less fortunate over Christmas this year.

The school boys from Middleton had been shopping with mum Amie, 32, when they spotted advent calendars and started talking about how lucky they were as so many children in Leeds wouldn't get chocolate over the festive season.

Amie, a customer services adviser, said: "They'd been talking about what advent calendars they wanted this year when I heard a flippant remark along the lines of, 'we're so lucky because some children won't get them this year'.

Alfie (left) and Joey went to deliver the chocolate in person to the Leeds South and East Food Bank, who were thrilled by their act of selflessness and kindness. Picture: Leeds South and East Food Bank

"They decided they wanted to raise enough money so they could buy advent calendars for other children."

The two brothers put their heads together and decided on quitting anything with chocolate in for a month in return for getting friends and family to sponsor them, raising an impressive £170 through a JustGiving page set up especially for them.

"They were amazingly disciplined," Amie added.

"They were even reminding us not to give them chocolate. There was one day when I offered them a bourbon biscuit and they said, 'no mummy we can't have anything with chocolate remember'."

After raising the cash, the boys shopped for chocolate reindeers, selection boxes and chocolate boxes for adults to be donated to the Leeds South and East Food Bank, with enough chocolate for hundreds of families in the city living hand-to-mouth over Christmas.

Amie, who also has one-year-old daughter Ivy, added: "I'm so proud of them, although it was only chocolate they gave up. Chocolate and sweets might have been too hard for them. Perhaps next year they might try to see if they can raise twice as much!"

Wendy Doyle, from Leeds South and East Food Bank said: "We want to say a massive thank you to the boys and it was a privilege to meet them and be able to thank them in person.

"The boys were amazing by stopping eating chocolate and saving all their money to buy Christmas treats for the people who will use our service over the coming weeks, it will help put a smile on another child’s face."

Leeds South and East Food Banks is still seeking donations in the run-up to Christmas, and is running a drive for donations of non-perishable items as well as Christmas food.

The drive is being kicked off with a sponsored walk by football fans from Elland Road Stadium to the John Smith's Stadium in Huddersfield ahead of Leeds United's clash with Huddersfield Town on Saturday, December 7.

Anyone looking to help out can contact them through their Facebook page or email [email protected]. You can also call their main office on 0113 3450850.