Couple cover home with thousands of Christmas lights say ‘worth every penny’

A couple have covered their home in Christmas lights to fundraise for charities who helped their grandson with epilepsy.

This is the 12th year John and Helen Attlesey, from Soham, Cambridgeshire, have decorated their home with the festive lights and have raised £61k over the years.

Helen and John, who are both in their 70s, said they had ‘too many lights to count’ but that their neighbours don’t mind.

Helen said: “People say I bet your house is wonderful inside but we don’t bother decorating much as there’s already too many outside.”

Helen and John’s grandson Jacob, now 21, was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy at the age of six and was given 12 to 18 months to live.

He underwent surgery to remove part of his brain and his seizures stopped – allowing him to eat and walk again.

Last year the couple raised an amazing £7,674.09 which was split between Grand Ormond Street Hospital, Dreamflight and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

Helen added: “As far as we’re concerned, we’re going to help others who could be in the same situation as we found ourselves in.

“It costs a few bob to run with the bills going up but we just get on with it.

“We vow to do it for as long as we can – we’re twelve years in officially but we don’t have any plans to stop.”

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