THE FAMILY an eight-month-old Droitwich girl born with a severe congenital heart condition have raised more than £500 for the hospice which has supported her.

Maci Cooper was born in March this year with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition affecting the left ventricle of her heart which pumps oxygen-rich blood around the body.

At just nine-days-old Maci was rushed to hospital for life-saving open heart surgery to save her life, and was again operated on in September.

Mum Kirsty Addleton, along with her partner Dan Cooper and staff from her son Riley's nursery Ombersley Endowed First School, braved the rain to walk the 12-kilometre Acorns Lantern Walk in Worcester earlier this month, and have so far raised £540 for Acorns Children's Hospice.

Miss Addleton, 24, of Park Way, said: "It went really well. There was lots of people dressed up, we did a little exercise to warm up and it was a great atmosphere."

The group from Droitwich joined hundreds of others to walk the route and raise thousands of pounds for the hospice.

"I just want to thank everybody for their support, everybody gave generous donations," said Miss Addleton. "I feel really happy, I didn't think we were going to raise our £500 target so I'm quite surprised."

Maci will undergo more surgery during her life, however it is not possible for her heart abnormality to be fully corrected.

Children born with this heart condition can survive into their late teens and early 20s, and Miss Addleton says she is feeling hopeful for the future as Maci has responded well to treatment so far.

She said: "I live every day not knowing what is going to be. I know everybody does, but with her condition she could deteriorate so quickly."

And a crucial part of support for Miss Addleton's family has come from Acorns Children's Hospice, which has helped Maci with her development and will support her as she grows.

Miss Addleton added: "We are supporting Acorns as they have given us hope.

"There are things that Maci is unable to do and Acorns are providing the facilities to do so.

"They have helped so much already in this time we would like to give something back."

To donate to Kirsty's fundraising walk visit justgiving.com/maci-cooper/