A fundraising drive started by a Pemrbokeshire youngster has secured £1,000 funding from Wales’ biggest housebuilder Persimmon Homes.

Elly Neville, aged six, from Pembroke, is helping raise money for Withybush General Hospital’s Ward 10 Cancer Ward in Haverfordwest.

It is all part of the Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal which started after Elly’s collage of the Pembrokeshire flag was raffled off initially for £50, but has since gone on to raise £22,000 for the hospital facility.

The initiative was awarded £1,000 as part of Persimmon Homes’ West Wales Community Champions scheme.

Elly’s father, Lyn Neville, said: “It started when Elly made a collage of the Pembrokeshire Flag for a St. David’s Day competition in school and we decided to raffle it to raise funds. We aimed to raise £50, but the flag went from strength to strength and we have reached £22,000.

“It has engaged the community who have all got behind such a good cause and we have held a number of fundraising events, including a bungee jump involving 14 people.

“The cancer ward at Withybush General Hospital is such an important facility for people in our area and I think its importance has been underlined by the support we have had from everyone.

“The money from Persimmon Homes West Wales is huge for us and helps keeps such a vital service to our community.”

The Community Champions scheme began last year allowing charities and groups to apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves. Nationally Persimmon Homes donated a total of £750,000 across the UK in the first 12 months of programme.

Sharon Robinson, sales director for Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “We were really impressed by the efforts and imagination of Elly’s Ward 10 Flag Appeal and we felt it was important we contributed in any way we could.

“It is for such a good cause and the reaction of the people in and around Pembrokeshire shows how close it is to their heart.

“As always it was a difficult decision to select our Community Champions, but I would encourage any charity or organisation that missed out this time, even if they have won previously, to apply again.”

To apply people can visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

Persimmon Homes West Wales is currently building at Martello Park in Pembroke.