A SUPER sister who organised a charity fun run in honour of her brother has smashed her fundraising targets.

Local teenager Laura Eves single-handedly planned a 5km run at Down Grange, in Basingstoke, to raise money for the Wessex Children's Heart Circle.

The charity is based in Southampton where Laura's 11-year-old brother Ashley has undergone three open-heart operations since he was a baby. He is expecting to have a fourth operation before the end of the year.

Scores of runners and walkers - many dressed in wacky costumes - took part in the fun run back in May.

Laura, 15, was hoping to raise £500 from the event, but she has exceeded that by collecting a grand total of £3,273.88.

She was delighted to present the money to the charity that supports children with congenital heart disease and their families.

The Brighton Hill Community College student said: "I am really pleased. The event raised a lot, lot more than I expected and it was great to hand the money over.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone who helped to organise it and everyone who took part.

"I want to organise something else to raise money in the future, but after this year as I'm taking my GCSEs."

Ashley, a Year 7 pupil at Brighton Hill Community College, was born with critical aortic stenosis, which affects the aortic valves in his heart and their ability to pump blood around his body.

When he was born, his left aortic valve was almost closed. He had undergone two major operations by the time he was 23 months old and then had a third in 1999. Ashley now needs more heart surgery to replace his right pulmonary valve.

Laura, of Copland Close, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, said: "When I was young, I didn't really understand why Ashley had to keep going into hospital.

"But the last time he had an operation, it shocked me to see what he and the other children at the hospital had to go through."

Speaking about the fundraising result, Laura's mum Clare Eves said: "We are so pleased - it's brilliant. We were surprised when Laura organised all this, but we backed her all the way. The result is fantastic."

Angela Coxon, chairman of the Wessex Children's Heart Circle, said: "Laura did a fantastic job in organising the run. For someone so young, she did really well.

"It has raised a lot more money than anyone was expecting, which we will use towards refurbishment and creating a teenage room."