A SIDMOUTH fundraiser has thanked residents and businesses who backed her successful bid to boost children with learning difficulties from around East Devon.

A SIDMOUTH fundraiser has thanked town residents and businesses who backed her successful bid to boost children with learning difficulties from around East Devon.

Rebecca Knight, 27, of Ice House Lane, took on a two day sponsored silence and a 30-mile charity trek to help raise nearly �3,000 that bought a therapy chair for the school where she is a teaching assistant.

Rebecca and colleagues raised the huge amount in just six weeks and say the “incredible” chair has made a huge difference to children from Sidmouth, Ottery and the rest of the region who go to Mill Water School in Honiton.

The school held fundraising events in December and the chair has since been delivered.

Rebecca appealed to Sidmouth residents for help and was delighted by the support she received.

“We had an amazing response,” she told the Herald.

“I benefited from being a local girl because I had so much help from friends and businesses in the town.

“We took delivery of the chair in January and it is being used a lot. It’s having an absolutely amazing affect on children already.

“I’m so grateful to local business people who were so generous- we were really lucky with raffle prizes and donations.

“I carried out a 48-hour sponsored silence and anyone who knows me will know it was hard going!”

Rebecca also walked from Exeter to Sidmouth and back for the cause.

Mill Water School caters for nearly 100 pupils from around the region with moderate and severe learning difficulties and those with profound and multiple needs. Some have challenging behaviour and a high proportion are on the autistic spectrum.