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Thanks for our best Christmas ever!
A HAPPY couple are celebrating their best Christmas after a massive community effort saw more than £18,000 collected for their blind baby.
Faith Dodds was robbed of her sight when she was born with a condition called optic nerve hypoplasia earlier this year.
Touched by the baby's plight, dozens of people boosted the Give Faith A Chance Appeal, which has proved a runaway success.
Baby Faith's parents, Michael Dodds and Kay Thompson, of Red House Road, Hebburn, say this Christmas has been made extra-special because of the tireless fundraising efforts of family, friends and regulars at The Clock pub, Hebburn, where Mr Dodds works.
Mr Dodds said: "Everyone has been absolutely fantastic.
"Our original target for the appeal was 5,000, but the money just kept rolling in, and it looks like the final total's going to top 18,000, with money due to come in until the end of January.
"We haven't touched the fund yet, but the aim is to use the money for special toys and play equipment for Faith.
"Plus, as Faith gets older, we could use the money for special garden equipment to keep her safe as she plays."
The couple are reluctant to adapt their Hebburn flat, as they hope to move to a bigger property in 2010, to give Faith more room to develop and play.
Numerous fundraising ventures have been organised since Faith was born blind, just over 10 months ago.
These have included a sponsored pub crawl and a cheeky calendar, featuring blushing male regulars from The Clock in Victoria Road East, Hebburn.
Former football star Paul Gascoigne also visited the Hebburn pub to present Faith and her parents with gifts to boost the appeal.
Mr Dodds added: "The last year has shown how much people care, and Kay and I cannot thank people enough."
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
