Two of this year’s LEGO Masters stars have opened up about how the iconic building blocks helped to save their lives.
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In separate interviews, Annie O’Reilly, who is partnered with friend Runa Lindblom, and Tim Jones, who is competing alongside wife Dannii, revealed how LEGO helped them regain their health.
Speaking to TV Week, Annie, 30, revealed she contracted a ‘rare brain infection’ aged just 15, resulting in her spending the next three years in and out of hospital with severe symptoms such as seizures and memory loss.

Despite being told she wouldn’t live beyond her 18th birthday, Annie says LEGO helped her get through the dark times.
Furthermore, 9Now states that Annie’s teammate, Runa also credits LEGO with helping her retrain her mind after undergoing brain surgery.
Speaking to another local publication, Tim explained how LEGO brought him joy after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2014. Doctors told Tim he may only have three weeks to live.

‘My family found some LEGO at a car boot sale and sat with me for hours as I built a LEGO castle with them,’ he said.