STAFF at a nursery in Runcorn have hit new heights by climbing Snowdon to raise funds for a severely disabled pupil.

Ella-Rose Carmichael has attended the Play Away Day Nursery since January this year and receives one-to-one care, including physiotherapy.

The two-year-old suffers from Down’s syndrome and West syndrome, preventing her from being able to sit up unaided and causing vision problems - meaning she is unable to focus on objects or see things in the distance.

And total of 15 members of staff at the Langdale Road nursery climbed Snowdon on Saturday, September 8, to raise funds to buy specialist equipment for the youngster - who ‘brightens up the room with her infectious smile’.

Ella-Rose is in need of a specialist chair - costing £2,500 - which will help to improve her posture, give her greater independence and provide her with somewhere to eat safely.

Nursery staff member Chloe Plumpton said: “In May, Ella-Rose was measured up for a chair in nursery which will help her posture, let her play independently and provide a safe place to eat.

“The price for the specialist chair was roughly £2,500, but as there is such a shortage of funding and a backlog of cases there was no date on when or if we would be given this chair for Ella-Rose.

“Due to this, we decided to walk up Snowdon and attempt to raise as much as possible to put towards the price of the specialist chair.

“As well as myself, 14 other girls volunteered to do this to.”

The nursery also held a cake sale and housed donation boxes in order to raise funds for Ella-Rose.

Chloe now hopes that Ella-Rose will be able to ‘reach her full potential’.

She added: “Ella-Rose is an amazing little girl who brightens up the room with her infectious smile.

“Ella-Rose works incredibly hard every day with the visuals and physio needed to help and support her.

“Her mum Emma and ourselves really believe that, with the right equipment and support, Ella-Rose can reach her full potential.”