A DEDICATED fundraiser and mum is hosting a family fun day to celebrate the life of tv presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady.
Janine Ferguson, of St Asaph, was a fan of the late O’Grady and admired his devotion to animals and the way he conducted himself.
The grandmother will be holding the fundraiser to ensure O'Grady's birthday is celebrated.
The event will be held in The Halfway House pub in Birkenhead betweem 1pm until 5pm and money will be raised for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Janine, who has seven grown-up children, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandson, lived in Birkenhead until she was 13-years-old.
The late star's hometown was Birkenhead.
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Janine, who is married to Mark, said: "There will be a DJ / karaoke, facepainting and youngsters can draw their favourite pets or animals that we will send on to Paul O'Grady's family. There will also be the 'best dressed Lily Savage', 'best dad dancing' competition as well as an auction and a raffle. Sweet Themes Cakes have kindly agreed to do a cake and matching cupcakes and we have invited other rescue centres to attend the event.
"Henllan Bakery [in Denbigh] have also made a contribution."
Talking about why she is throwing the event, Janine said: "Paul O'Grady's birthday is June 14 but we are doing this on June 11 as it works better being a Sunday.
"It is to give Paul the recognition he so rightly deserves. I was a fan and he didn't want to be remembered as a celebrity but an animal lover. He was that grounded.
"No one could step into his shoes.
"I was brought up in Birkenhead. I don't know what it is but there is just something in my heart. If you saw him walking down Grange Road I'm sure he would be happy to have a brew and have a natter. Nothing seem to go to his head.
"The upsetting part is that sometimes.. recognition or celebrations don't happen until someone passes away when he [O'Grady] should have be recognised whilst he was alive."
O'Grady died "unexpectedly but peacefully" at his home in Kent on 28 March 2023.
During his TV career, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs. He was also host of the ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.
O’Grady took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, as he hosted the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017.
He was also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage.
The entertainer could be posthumously given the freedom of Wirral as part of plans to pay tribute to his legacy.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event on June 11.
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