A NORTH-EAST mother fundraising for the hospital that treated her seriously ill son is appealing for support.

Darlington mother-of-two Melanie Davison’s world was turned upside down when her young son Spencer, now aged three, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect last November.

She is now determined to raise as much money as possible to support the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where her son undergoes treatment.

She said: “Every parent’s worst nightmare is to be told there is something wrong with their child and mine was realised that awful day in November.

“The staff at the Freeman Hospital were amazing and managed to get a wriggly three-year-old to sit completely still while they carried out their tests, scans and examinations, a feat in itself.

“They also explained everything to us and said if we had any questions when we got home just to call them.”

To raise money for the Freeman Heart Unit charity (CHUF), Ms Davison will take part in a skydive in June and is holding a Dikky Tikka fundraising event at the Table Talk Indian restaurant in Middleton St George on Sunday, April 13.

Ms Davison, 34, is now appealing to local businesses to donate raffle prizes for the event, which will include a seven-course meal prepared by award-winning chef Mohammed Mia.

Tickets are £25 or £5 for children and the restaurant has pledged to donate £10 per head to CHUF. To book a table call 01325-333338.

To sponsor Ms Davison’s skydive, visit justgiving.com/Mel-Davison and to donate raffle prizes, email melaniedavison79@yahoo.co.uk