A retired teacher who walked ten miles in aid of a hospital which helped save the life of her grand-daughter, has raised the equivalent of more than £1,000 a mile.

Barbara Slater of Threshfield, near Skipton, and her five friends -- sisters Betty Whitaker and Mary Simpson, Soo Aldersley, Joan Cunliffe and Helga Cansdale -- have raised £10,600 for the Newcastle-based Freeman Hospital's CHUF fund.

Her granddaughter, six-year-old Sally Slater, of Kirkby Malham, near Skipton, received a heart transplant at Newcastle after a nationwide appeal when she was on the brink of death.

While she waited for a donor, she was kept alive with two plastic £40,000 hearts, funded by CHUF, the Children's Heart Unit Fund.

Mrs Slater is to present the cheque to Sally and her mum, 36-year-old Bridget, a lecturer at Craven College, Skipton, who will deliver it to the Freeman Hospital, which they visit every week for Sally's check-ups.

She said: "I wish to thank everyone for their generosity. I plan to write to everyone I can, although we had some anonymous donations.

"I have been overwhelmed by the response from people throughout the country and from people we don't know.

"It is a way for us to thank the hospital and also to raise the issue of donor shortage."

Sally, who has two brothers, Charlie aged three, and five-year-old Joe, has made a remarkable recovery and now no longer needs to use a wheelchair in her home.

She is a pupil at Kirkby Malham school and it is hoped she will return to class in September.

Meanwhile, she is being taught at home by her grandmother and another tutor.

Anyone who still wishes to sponsor Mrs Slater can do so by making donations to CHUF which can be sent to either Slater Marchant, Manor Hill, Grassington, or to Barbara and Tom Slater at Dalecroft, Wharfeside Avenue, Threshfield, Skipton BD23 5BS.

e-mail: clive white@bradford.

newsquest.co.uk