SOME £1,000 has been raised by a bingo group set up to help a Cinderford family whose three children suffer Battens disease.

Twins Toby and Cory Penn, aged 12, and their seven-year-old sister Izzy have the rare degenerative disease, which will affect their eyesight, speech and motion as it progresses. The group ‘Our Little Troopers’ was started by the children’s aunt, Dawn Kibble, who wanted to raise money to support them.

The weekly bingo event, which is held at Two River’s Rowandean scheme, has raised £1,000 in just 17 weeks – which is likely to increase.

“We get residents from other HomePlus Schemes, such as Willowdean, that come along to the bingo and support the event. Some of the residents don’t even play; they just come along to donate. It’s been amazing,” Dawn explained.

Grandparents Linda and Gordon Penn, who also attend, along with 15 - 20 other residents, are astounded at the kindness of others since the charity begun.

Mr Penn said: “We’ve been totally overwhelmed with support from friends, family and even total strangers. A Two Rivers employee Mark Hawkins even donated a bouncy slide that he was planning to sell for £500. We are so thankful.”

At present there is no cure for the life-shortening disease.