A CATTISTOCK couple helped raise nearly £3,000 for the gastroenterology department at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

Lee and Kirsty Anderson took to fundraising following the hospital’s care and treatment of their six-year-old daughter, Aimee.

Aimee has been diagnosed with severe bowel and digestive problems since birth, having been born with her bowel on the outside of her body.

She has since undergone several operations to repair and remove sections of her bowel and was readmitted to intensive care two months ago.

The couple said Aimee’s condition was ‘ongoing’ but hospital staff were managing her health really well with regular tests and medication.

Kirsty said: “The hospital has done so much to care for Aimee and support our family through some lengthy stays in hospital.

“We often see fundraising done for the hospital wards but we decided that we wanted to give something back to the team that look after her.

“This would enable services to be improved for other children that suffer similar conditions to Aimee.”

Last month a charity event was held at the Fox and Hounds Inn in Cattistock, featuring a New Zealand style barbeque known as a ‘Hangi’.

With help from Aimee’s great uncle Neil, who hails from New Zealand, a pit was dug at the back of the pub.

Lee said: “We were overwhelmed with all the help and support from the village.”

More than 150 people attended the event with people coming as far as Manchester. A grand total of £2,911.64 was raised, exceeding both Kirsty and Lee’s expectations.

Kirsty said: “Southampton Children’s Gastroenterology department are thrilled with the amount we have raised and have asked for our input into where the funds should be spent.

“Just one of the ways that we have chosen to help is to buy a supply of ‘buzzy’ devices that help to take the pain out of the regular and painful needle treatments that children like Aimee have to undergo.”