FUNDRAISERS from Beccles travelled to Ipswich to meet Terri Calvesbert, the young fire victim they helped.The five-year-old enjoyed meeting Pam Howes and Ruth Hammond, who ran a stall to raise £280.

By Tracey Sparling

FUNDRAISERS from Beccles travelled to Ipswich to meet Terri Calvesbert, the young fire victim they helped.

The five-year-old enjoyed meeting Pam Howes and Ruth Hammond, who ran a stall to raise £280.

Terri also loved the lollipop and sweets the pair brought her as presents – a welcome treat after a long day at Broomfield Hospital, where a plastic surgeon set the date for her next major operation – June 12.

Pam and Ruth are carers at The Dell old folks' home in Beccles, where friends rallied round to collect items to sell on the stall. They said they would do another one at Christmas.

Pam said: "We saw Terri on television and couldn't help but talk about her at work the next day. We were given a lot of donations and our stall sold out within four hours."

Ruth added: "Everybody had heard about Terri and wanted to help. We couldn't believe the courage she has shown after what she's been through, and thought we had to do something."

Latest donations include £7 from the Kings family and £50 from London black cab driver Frank Taylor.

Mr Taylor, who formerly worked for the London Ambulance Service, made the donation to celebrate passing his advanced driving test with help from Ipswich and District Group of Advanced Motorists.

He even rang BBC Radio Essex to spread the word about Terri. He said: "This was well worth the hard work.

"I am now a far better driver, but at the end of the day Terri Calvesbert is also a winner.

"In the London cab trade we have a saying that 'no man walks so tall as he who helps a child' and this is what is in my heart now."

Ipswich children's author Martin Talbot is continuing to raise cash by selling a series of magical story books he wrote, and gave Terri copies of.

The books span the 115 years between Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, and the current Queen's forthcoming Golden Jubilee.

n The Terri Calvesbert Fund has topped £100,000 for her future. To make a donation send a cheque payable to the Terri Calvesbert Appeal, to Geraldine Thompson, Editor's Secretary, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.