CHARD Project Romania is thanking people in the town for helping a young girl who was suffering from Spina Bifida.

The charity met Denisa, who was nine, about three years ago – she had Spina Bifida and bad curvature of the spine, which was threatening her health.

She became so ill that breathing was a problem and she needed urgent surgery to straighten her spine.

The charity appealed to people in Chard and raised more than £2,000 in a short space of time.

Dawn Fletcher, from the charity, said: “Sadly, Denisa became too ill to even have surgery, and when she recovered, the Romanian surgeon said the operation was no longer possible.

"This was very frustrating for all of us, especially her parents.

“They asked us to try and get the operation done in the UK and we approached a surgeon here who gave the same advice.

“When we visited the family again, they asked for help with bathing her and after much discussion and research it was decided the money would be spent in this way.”

Earlier this year, a shower trolley was sent from the UK to Denisa.

The family only have two rooms to live in and were unable to build a bathroom as their water comes from a well.

Denisa had been using a plastic baby bath and the trolley has made a huge difference to her life.

The trolley arrived last month and the project manager in Seica Mare, Florin Benghea, took it to her home.

Dawn added: “We want to say a very big thank you to all of you who contributed to this fund.

“Your generosity has been able to help a child in need and she and her family are very grateful.”