CARING schoolgirl Ellie-Rose Watkins boosted a stroke patients’ club by organising a Hallow’een party and raising £704.

The Coalway 14-year-old, who attends Monmouth Comprehensive School, was inspired to help the Forest of Dean Stroke Club after her grandad Paul Chandlier suffered a stroke two years ago.

She organised the whole event at Broadwell Football Club, and said: “I hoped to make £500 from selling tickets and holding a raffle, but was amazed to make over £700.

“We had about 130 people in fancy dress – everything from skeletons, to celebs to Teletubbies – it was really well supported and I’m very pleased to be able to make this donation.”

Grandad Paul – a former player and coach at Berry Hill RFC, who is also a qualified referee and chairs the Forest Combination Cup competition – was driving his car near the Speech House just before Christmas 2016 when he suffered a stroke.

“It just suddenly hit me – I lost control and the car went straight into the woods,” he said. “Luckily, a young man who I’d coached was in the car behind and he stopped and called 999 and they got me to Southmead Hospital quickly, which helped me make a reasonably good recovery,” said the 64-year-old logistics manager from Broadwell.

“It’s fantastic that Ellie-Rose has raised such a sum. It gets me quite emotional. I’m so proud of her,” added the dad-of-two, who has four other grandchildren.

Her mum Lisa Watkins – Paul’s daughter – said: “It’s a brilliant effort by Ellie-Rose. She designed and printed the tickets, got people to donate raffle prizes, and organised and decorated the venue, including a coffin backdrop for Hallow’een photos and apple bobbing. She was the hostess with the mostest.

“She’s very close to her grandad, so I wasn’t surprised she wanted to do something, but it’s a fabulous sum to raise for someone so young.”

The FoD Stroke Club has been going for 31 years and meets every fortnight on Monday mornings at Lydney’s Spring Water Centre.

Group organiser Rosemary Parker said: “What a superb thing for such a young person to do. We’re delighted to receive the money, which will help us hire a special assistance coach for a trip or go towards a meal for the members.”

The group – which is also supported by volunteers Doreen Hodder, Nola Truman, Brenda Baldwin, Mo Nicholas and cake baker Kath Kirkham – helps some 20 members lead as normal a life as possible, taking them out for trips, hosting speakers such as health experts and council officers, and activities like table top gardening.

Anyone who has had a stroke who would like to join or attend a meeting can contact Rosemary on 01594 726391.