A COFFEE morning to raise money for a Magor three-year-old to walk unaided has raised £430.

Held in Rogiet Community Church Hall last Thursday (3rd April), the event brought many residents together to share cakes, participate in the raffle and raise money for Ruby Atkins.

Ruby has bilateral cerebral palsy meaning her ability to walk unaided is restricted.

The tot is in need of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment to reduce spasticity in her legs and enable her to walk unaided.

£40,000 needs to be raised for Ruby to have the treatment as the operation is not yet funded by the NHS, meaning parents are required to raise money for the operation.

The coffee morning was organised by Ilona Watson and Fay Baxter who hold regular events at the church hall to raise money for children in need.

"We do fundraisers for children in need every Thursday," said Ilona, "Then we found out there was a child in Rogiet, Ruby, who needed donations to go towards her operation.

"We're hoping to carry out more fundraising for Ruby throughout the year.

"I've got the idea of holding a soup kitchen on a Sunday. Everyone tends to go out for Sunday lunch or spends perhaps £20 or more on a joint of meat.

"We'd like to encourage people to come along to the hall where we'll be serving soups and bread and donate what they would have spent on a Sunday lunch to Ruby's appeal."

Ruby's grandmother, Jennifer Tilton, who visited the coffee morning with the three-year-old, said: "Ruby is enjoying all the activities and is quite used to it all now.

"She's such a sociable well behaved little girl, although she has her moments just like any other toddler.

"Ruby has to go through lots of conditioning for her legs but she's so compliable. You can tell by her that she really wants to walk."

To donate to Ruby's cause visit the online page: http://www.justgiving.com/rubyAtkins">www.justgiving.com/rubyAtkins