Article from the Wirral Globe

A WIRRAL family are leading the way for a children’s charity after appearing on the X Factor this weekend.

Twins Dan and Sam Lloyd, 16, and their younger brother Tom, 13, suffer from rare disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which affects one in 3,500 boys in the UK.

And the boys, from Wallasey, were at the centre of a special appeal film shown on Sunday night’s show to promote the Together for Short Lives charity.

Their appearance on the show tied in with the release of this year’s X factor single ‘Wishing on a Star’ which is in aid of the charity.

They were invited onto Daybreak the following morning to talk about their condition.

And the boys’ mum, Helen, said they were thrilled they were chosen for the appeal film after being put forward by Claire House Children’s Hospice.

She said: “When we were told, about three weeks ago, that we had been put forward to the charity by Claire House we were chuffed.

"Claire House have been fantastic, we filmed at the hospice and my husband and I were also interviewed at our home.

“It was also a fantastic opportunity to appear on Day Break the following morning. It gave the boys an opportunity to talk about their diagnosis, the hospice’s work and the fantastic time they had on the X Factor.

“I am told that the charity single has gone straight to number one and that the Together for Short Lives charity is all over Twitter and Facebook, which is great news,”

The brothers, who attend The Mosslands School met the judges and contestants at the after-show party they said the X Factor experience was something he and his brothers will never forget.

“It was a fantastic experience to be on the TV, when we told our friends in school they didn’t believe us. We were all nervous to be on the TV but very excited and loved meeting everyone at the X Factor. Our favourite judge is Tulisa and we all want Amelia Lily to win the show.”

The three boys were also given gifts from the X Factor team, including a signed placard and the drinking glasses from the judges table.

Helen added: “We were all star struck at the party and in the studio, and a lot of the contestants and judges came over to speak to boys on the night. The X Factor team were very helpful, even organising taxis when ours failed to arrive.

"We were up at 4.30am for the interview the next morning and the phone has been going like crazy since arriving home. Everything has been very hectic but totally worth it.”