A DEDICATED fund­raiser raised more than £300 in six hours dressed up as the children's favourite superhero The Incredible Hulk.

Sam Zala, of Bream, was out in force – or character – collecting money for five-year-old Charlie Mitchell who suffers from cerebral palsy.

Along with nine other 'superheroes', Sam has set herself the challenge to raise £25,000 in two months to pay for an operation that will enable Charlie to walk pain-free for the rest of his life.

Charlie, who lives in Sling, suffered from minor brain damage when he was born at just 29 weeks old which resulted in his diagnosis of spastic diplegia (a form of cerebral palsy).

Unfortunately the operation, which Charlie hopes to undergo in April, is currently not funded by the NHS and, despite being identified as an ideal candidate for the procedure by the surgeons during his formal assessment, the case was rejected for funding.

Sam said: "The people of Lydney were great – I managed to raise £366.46 in six hours and drivers tooted in support.

"We have already started fundraising by holding a hockey match in which we raised £750, which was phenomenal considering it was absolutely chucking it down with rain.

"Charlie's mum and I are hockey captains at the same club and so when we all gathered to suggest which charity we should support for the year we all agreed to help Charlie.

"At the moment Charlie can only walk on tip-toe as the pain in his muscles makes it hard for him to walk flat therefore he heavily relies on people to help him get about. This operation is a lifeline that will enable him to walk flat but more importantly pain-free.

"I am hoping to get a competition going now to see which town is the most generous."

Sam and her team of 'superheroes' will be fundraising until March 28.

For more details and to donate visit http://www.supportcharlie.org">www.supportcharlie.org.

Sam will be collecting in Coleford on Friday and Cinderford the Friday after that, before returning to Lydney and then rotating between the towns.