Carnival of caring for brave Ellie; ROWLEY REGIS: Friends and relatives out for charity walk in aid of meningitis victim.

Byline: By Tony Deeley

A COMMUNITY joined forces in true carnival style for a walk which raised hundreds of pounds for brave meningitis youngster Ellie Bishop.

Dozens of neighbours and friends stepped out in style in fancy dress to brave rain and blustery conditions for Saturday's big event at Rowley Regis.

Ellie, aged five, has had both legs amputated above the knee and has lost her right arm up to the elbow and most of the fingers on her left hand since contracting meningitis in February.

She is still receiving treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital but has been allowed home for brief periods.

Around 200 friends and neighbours in the Harrold Road area joined a "Walk the Block for Ellie" event to raise much needed funds for the youngster.

Young and old alike, many with faces painted and dressed in numerous guises, braved pouring rain to complete up to 30 circuits of the block taking in Harrold Road, Penncricket Lane and Hackett Road.

Donations, a raffle and a tombola with prizes donated helped to swell the proceeds.

Walk organiser Maria Daulman said almost pounds 1,400 was raised and collected on Saturday alone and the total could be doubled once sponsorship money came in.

"The rain played absolute havoc but most people finished the 30 laps," she said. "It was a real community effort. Everyone worked extremely hard."

Ellie's mum, who joined the walkers, said the event had brought the whole neighbourhood closer together.

"It was a brilliant turn-out despite the bad weather. I cannot thank everyone enough," she said.

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CAPTION(S):

GENEROSITY... Jade Round and Georgia Woods, classmates of Ellie (inset), and (far left) her cousin Kalen Dunnaway dressed as Austin Powers.