FRIENDS and neighbours are hoping to give a poorly Bury teenager the chance to come face to face with a special friend.

Fund-raisers have set their sights on sending 13-year-old Jodie Mottershead, of Toon Crescent, Brandlesholme, to meet Fungie the Dolphin in Ireland.

The Elms Bank High pupil, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and partial sightedness, also suffers from a spinal problem.

Doctors say that the condition, which causes fluid to build up on the lungs, may mean Jodie has only a few years to live.

At the weekend, the "Jodie's Dolphin Appeal" set off from Brandlesholme for a fancy dress pub crawl into Bury Town Centre, armed with collecting buckets.

They hope to have raised up to £1,000 for Jodie, her mum Sandra Grimshaw, dad Billy and four-year-old sister Jade to visit Dingle Bay, where they will take a boat trip to see Fungie.

Sandra, who provides round-the-clock care for her daughter, said: "There is something special about dolphins which means a lot to Jodie. She has tapes of dolphin noises and ornaments.

"I am really grateful for what everyone is doing. I don't always have time for fund-raising because I have to be at home looking after Jodie.

"At the moment she is quite well, but we don't know from one day to the next how she is going to be."

As well as the pub crawl, charity karaoke and fun days are also being planned, with prizes donated by local businesses.

Fund-raising organiser Linda McCann, of Collen Crescent, said: "We just want to keep up the momentum and get what we can for Jodie.

"She and her family really deserve this because they are so strong and all very special."

For more details or to make a donation, contact Linda on 07890 967040.