Millie's garden dream to come true as appeal tops target

Millie Fountain’s loved ones aimed to raise £4,000 to revamp the back garden of her parents’ Thorney Close home.

Now, after an appeal in the Echo, it is set to go ahead after more than £5,500 was collected with the help of an entertainment night.

The space is needed to help support the five-year-old Sunningdale pupil’s physio and independence.

As an infant she had surgery to repair a cleft lip and palate, but at nine-months-old, mum Dionne Pickersgill and dad Stephen Fountain realised she was not progressing as she should.

Her delayed development means she is unable to walk without the help of a frame or talk, and she also has epilepsy and hyper-mobility.

After funding the garden, her family is looking to buy a hot tub to ease her aches and pains and support her exercise routine.

Full-time carer Dionne, 28, and removal man Stephen, 30, are working with Brandnewwalls Drives and Patios on the plans, which will be put into action once the weather gets warmer.

The £2,000 raised by Millie’s relations was topped up thanks to an entertainment night held by Maureen Thompson at the Alexandra, with £1,000 alone collected through a head shave by the youngster’s grandmother Carole Pickersgill, 53.

Dionne said: “When we realised we’d hit the target, it was absolutely amazing, I was just so emotional.

“This will make an amazing difference to Millie because she’s going to be able to do her physio, which she can’t do in the house.”

Maureen, 61, fundraises in memory of her husband Allan, who died in 2000 aged 43, following a battle against leukaemia.

The search is also on for a skip firm to help with the garden project.

A donation page and details can be found via https://www.gofundme.com/millie-moo-garden-fund.