VIDEO: Storrington’s very own superheroes unite for toddler

Tesco Express in Storrington saw its staff members dress up as Wonderwoman, Batman, Robin and Superman to collect money for two-year-old Maxwell Smith who suffers from Mitochondrial Disease, a muscle wasting condition.

The event which took place over the weekend from Friday (February 14) to Sunday (February 16) included a cake sale, book sale and tombola.

Born a healthy baby, Maxwell was only nine-months-old when he contracted a bad case of tonsillitis and was admitted to the hospital in 2012.

After a series of treatments, he was diagnosed with the disease and is now unable to move his arms or legs and relies on a ventilator 24 hours a day.

Maxwell’s brave story had touched the heart of the staff members, inspiring them to raise the banners, bake the cakes and shake the buckets - all outside of their contracted hours.

Customer assistant Becky Herrits said: “I’m here on my day off because I’ve got two children and if my kids had to go through this I’d want others to do the same.

“I’ve been selling cakes and took over £40.”

Spearheading the event, floor manager John Richards said: “We thought we’d get together and do something. I’m a father myself and Maxwell’s parents are regular customers here.”

The £1,479 will help towards new equipment for the toddler that the NHS is unable to cover, including a specialised bath.

Maxwell’s grandmother Belinda Hill said seeing everyone pull together for the event made her want ‘to burst into tears’.

“The support from the community has been amazing,” she said.

“We’re also raising money for a generator because we had a powercut recently and had to take Maxwell to the hospital.”

To help raise money for Little Maxwell’s cause visit Little Maxwell