A FEATHERY fundraising tribute has put a spring in the step of a specialist hospital fund.

Nasreem Younis decided she wanted to help a good cause following the loss of her mother to asthma in 2013

Her 68-year-old mother, Rehana Nazir, was on her way home from a holiday in Pakistan when she passed away.

The young mother set herself a target of raising £500 for the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust’s Respiratory Fund as a mark of gratitude for her mother’s earlier treatment at North Tees University Hospital.

So she raffled off her personal collection of soft toy chicks along with chocolates, toiletries, and other gifts.

And her efforts – from the sale of tickets and donations by her Just Giving site – have raised £721 for the Respiratory Fund.

The much-needed funding will help to provide equipment such as nebulisers which are used by asthma patients on the ward.

The draw was made by Teesside ultra-runner Sharon Gayter, fresh from setting a 12-hour treadmill running world record despite suffering from asthma herself.

Mrs Younis, a regeneration project manager with Middlesbrough Council, said: “I will miss my chicks – but I feel the love and joy they brought me over the years will now be spread among many children and even adults.

“Not a day goes by without me thinking of my mum or missing her, so it has been great to raise awareness of how serious asthma can be."

Asthma specialist nurse Catherine Hodge said: “Nasreen’s mum Rehana was a lovely lady who we got to know very well during her illness. It is really lovely of Nasreen to fundraise for our service in her memory.”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Nasreen-Younis.