A CARING big sister has smashed her fundraising target and is on course to raise more than £3,000 for a hospital which saved her little sister’s life.

Paige Reilly organised a fun day and football tournament last month to say thank you to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Her little sister, Ava Knox Reilly, was just three years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour just weeks before Christmas four years ago.

The youngster then had to spend the majority of the festive season in the Capital hospital before undergoing an operation in the new year.

Paige, of Ormiston’s Hawthorn Way, was delighted with the success of the event, which took place at Tranent’s Foresters Park, with a bake sale held at Dunbar Leisure Pool 48 hours beforehand.

She said: “I just want to say a big thanks to [operators] enjoyleisure.

“They helped us with a big part of it and let us use the pitch free of charge and the bake sale as well.

“Dunbar Leisure Pool raised just under £500 with the raffle tickets and the bake sale and they did have a lot to do with the success.

“I want to say thanks as well to all the people who donated, sponsored and helped us out.”

Ava was taken to the hospital in November 2012 and underwent an operation in February the following year to remove the tumour.

The youngster, who is in P4 at St Gabriel’s RC Primary School in Prestonpans, still has to go to the hospital for scans every six months.

Initially, 17-year-old Paige set a fundraising target of just £500 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.

However, thanks to the generosity of friends, family and enjoyleisure customers, that figure was well and truly smashed.

Paige told the Courier: “We are really chuffed – I didn’t expect anything like that at all.

“I set myself a target of £500 and then we moved it to £1,000 and then to £1,500.

“We smashed it and I thought I would move it to £2,000 and we have smashed that as well.”

Currently, the fundraising total sits at £2,800, with money still coming in and Standard Life, where Paige works, promising to add a further £750 – taking the total to more than £3,500.

The fun day proved a great success before five enjoyleisure teams did battle to win the seven-a-side football tournament.

Teams from Dunbar Leisure Pool, North Berwick, Tranent’s Loch Centre and Haddington’s Aubigny Sports Centre took part but it was a team from Meadowmill, near Prestonpans, who emerged victorious.

Paige, who is considering running an annual fundraising event, added it was not until 11.30pm before she made it home.

She said: “When I was counting it, I had to redo it and count it three times because I didn’t believe it!”

Her fundraising efforts have also been recognised by the charity.

Vicki Watson, community fundraiser for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, told the Courier: “Paige Reilly is a real inspirational fundraiser.

“She worked tirelessly, supported by family and friends, to put on an amazing event that raised a fantastic amount of money, so that children and young people in hospital can continue to be a child first and patient second.

“Thank you.”

To make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paige-reilly2