Olivia's charity is awarded £10,000

A charity set up in memory of a Brownhills schoolgirl who died from a rare infection has been awarded £10,000 to fund projects for families of disabled children.

The family of Olivia Meredith, aged nine, launched the Livvy's Smile project to raise cash for parties and fun days for other families to enjoy and generate happy memories.

The youngster attended Oakwood Special School, Walsall Wood. She had the conditions Rett syndrome and epilepsy and died November 2008 after suffering pneumonia caused by a rare bacteria.

Her family, of Peake Road, are over the moon after their application to Swiss Army Knife company Victorinox attracted £10,000 towards running event more events for Walsall families, after their ideas for donkey parties and family days out impressed the company.

Mother Sara, aged 34, father Alan, 40, sisters Kennedy, 14, Eden 13 and Brodie, ten, were earlier this month invited to a presentation ceremony in London.

Mrs Meredith said: "I'm still recovering from the shock after they rang to tell us that our application had been successful.

"I wrote it last November and put my heart and soul into explaining what we would like to do.

"The company have been amazing and were really interested in what we are doing."

The money will be used to expand their programme to the wider community to ensure educational and interactive activities are available to all disabled children and their families within the Walsall area.

Livvy's Smile events have included a children's parties at EST Donkey Sanctuary in Sutton Park.

Mrs Meredith said her happy memories of Olivia included seeing her walk over to the donkeys after being told she could not walk.

Livvy's Smile was among three schemes from across the country to attract funding.

Veronika Elsener, of Victorinox, said: "We were not only proud to have received so many good entries, we were touched to see so many people wanting to create something that enriches and gives meaning to others."