Cara scores a meeting with Stevie G!

AT the start of March 2020 the Starlight Children's Foundation granted 19 year old, Cara Wall's wish to meet her idol, Steven Gerrard. The teen, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, described the meeting as:- 'perfect' and even got some coaching advice for herself from the Liverpool legend.  Cara was diagnosed in January 2020 with a type of soft tissue cancer that grows in active muscles of the body. Cara is a huge football fan and her idol has been Steven Gerrard ever since he played for her favourite football team, Liverpool FC, so it's was no surprise that her Starlight Wish was to meet Steven Gerrard.  On the day, Cara and Steven spoke about all things football, from who his favourite team were to play, how he got into football, being a manager and a dad. Cara has admired and watched Steven play since she was a child and he is her hero! As Cara is a coach herself, she was desperate to pick the managers brain, and Steven even gave her some coaching tips and offered to send some of his own session plans!

1 of Cara's burning questions was of course whether Liverpool FC might ever be managed by Gerrard in the future. His reply was, "Of course one day I would love that opportunity but right now I'm happy where I am and really enjoying Jurgen Klopp leading my team to success."

Remarking on Liverpool's iconic game against Barcelona and Trent Alexander Arnold's perfect corner kick, Gerrard comments:- "I had to leave the stadium because my heart was coming out of my chest. He's doing ever so well. He's flying."

Starlight Children's Foundation is a nationwide children's charity dedicated to preserving childhood through serious illness. This is done by a variety of services including:- granting wishes for children with life threatening conditions.  To find out more and to keep up to date follow Starlight on:- Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.

Editors note:- "Please note that this story and photos where put together before the social distancing rules and isolation rules came into effect in the UK."

Online voting launched to find the Region's top young artists

A public vote to find Liverpool City Region's best young artists opened on Saturday, 28 March 2020 and continues until 28 April 2020.  This year 1257 pupils from 76 Schools have entered the 'dot-art' Schools competition and the shortlisted students from each School are now hoping for your votes to win a place in the 8th Annual exhibition. The online inter School art contest gives both Year 5 and Year 9 pupils across the Liverpool City Region and its near neighbours the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and have their work shown in a public exhibition. At this stage School staff, friends, family and the general public can vote online for their favourite piece with the top art work from each School will be included in the final exhibition, details of which, due to the current Coronavirus situation, will be announced as soon as possible.

dot-art Schools project manager Carolyn Murray commented:- "We aim to celebrate the creativity of young people in the Liverpool City Region to nurture the next generation of rising stars. It's also a fantastic chance for pupils to showcase their skills and artwork to their parents, family and the wider community. At this uniquely challenging time for everyone, it is uplifting to be able to share and enjoy children and young people's creative efforts. Browsing through the hundreds of entries online to choose and vote for your favourite artwork is an ideal activity to do at home with your family."

To find out more about this and how to vote, please visit:- Schools.Dot-Art.Com.