A grandmother from Old Catton is celebrating after smashing her charity fundraising target to help sick children.

Wendy Alcock, of Billing Close, initially intended to raise �6,000 for the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) at Quidenham, but has managed to raise an incredible �55,669.29 in just over a year.

Mrs Alcock wanted to mark her 60th year with a range of fundraising activities to help children like her grandson Jackson Robinson, who suffers from a rare illness of the immune system, and soon many others were volunteering to help.

She said: 'When I first set out raising funds, my target was �6,000. Before I knew it, friends, family and ex-colleagues were holding events, sponsoring me and giving me donations, I cannot thank everyone enough for their support in helping me raise such an incredible amount of money.'

So far she has completed a skydive, held a ball at Sprowston Manor, organised sports matches, auctions and raffles, and asked for donations instead of presents when she celebrated her 60th birthday in July.

The rest of the family have helped, with Jackson's father Paul and grandfather Billy cycling 380 miles from Wales to Lowestoft, and mum Karen completing a half-marathon.

Two-year-old Jackson suffers from Autoimmune enteropathy, which means that he is fed using a tube and pump, and struggles to gain weight. Jackson and his family are cared for and supported by EACH and to say thank you, Mrs Alcock decided to set up the Jackson Robinson Fund as part of her efforts, which she called 'Challenge 60'.

Mrs Alcock, a retired head teacher of Catton Grove First and Nursery School, said: 'This is the least I can do to say thank you to the care teams and other families at Quidenham for all they have done, and continue doing to help us as a family.'

For more details visit www.jacksonrobinsonfund.co.uk

Are you going the extra mile to raise money for charity? Contact reporter Richard Wood on 01603 772423 or email richard.wood@archant.co.uk