A TEENAGER who suffered head injuries when she fell from a tree could soon be going on her first ever holiday thanks to pub regulars.
Vanessa Milek broke her wrist, and damaged her spleen and pancreas when she fell from a horse chestnut tree while collecting conkers in Milnshaw Park, Accrington, in September.
She also had a kidney removed following the accident and spent two months in hospital with serious head injuries.
She was released from hospital on her 14th birthday in November and returned to St Christopher's High School part-time two weeks ago.
Now staff and regulars at the Hargreaves Arms, in Manchester Road, Accrington, have set up a fundraising committee and are aiming to raise £2,000 to send the youngster, a friend, and her mum Angela, of Westwood Street, Accrington, on their first holiday.
They have planned a series of events including a karaoke and darts events, to reach their target. Colin Feeley, a former next door neighbour, decided to organise the campaign after hearing about the accident.
"Vanessa and Angela have had a rough, traumatic time so I think they deserve a good holiday somewhere they can enjoy themselves," he said.
Angela, 40, has insisted that half of any money raised should be donated to Pendlebury Children's Hospital, in Manchester, where her daughter spent 10 weeks after initial treatment in Blackburn Infirmary.
She said: "It's just fantastic. I can't believe they are doing it for Vanessa and I. There must be other people who are deserving. I know Colin would do this for any child because that's the way he is.
"Vanessa and I have been on our own for years and I have never been able to afford to take her on a decent holiday, and after all this trauma all I want to do is take her away with a friend to have a good time.
"We are not bothered where it is as longs as we are together and she can have a good time - somewhere she can enjoy herself because she has been to hell and back in the last few months."
Vanessa's grandmother Gloria Milek, 70, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, said: "I think it's wonderful if she can get away because she hasn't ever had a proper holiday.
"She has been away with me for a weekend, and with her aunties but she's never really had a proper holiday to look forward to."
Colin Eastham, landlord of the pub, said: "Colin told me the story and I said I would do everything I could to help raise the money."
People can make donations at branches of NatWest Bank or by calling into the pub.
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