A LITTLE girl whose life was being made a misery by her medical condition has inspired a new fund which will benefit scores of other children.

The Smile Fund, a not-for-profit organisation, has been founded by Christine Charters-Young, who runs the Healing House for Health and Well Being in Newmarket and Great Bradley.

Ms Charters-Young decided to set up the fund after treating seven-year-old Ellie Cross, of Newmarket, who started seeing her at her Great Bradley practice when she was five years old.

Ellie suffered with a chronic abdominal condition, which was restricting what she could do at school and left her in significant pain for much of the time.

Her mother Kim said: “Ellie had been seen by consultants in hospital since she was two, but, apart from giving her medication to ease the problem, there seemed to be nothing else that could be done for her.”

Ellie started receiving reflexology from Ms Charters-Young and her condition began to improve.

“There was an improvement almost immediately and that not only helped Ellie physically, but resulted in her gaining more confidence,” said Mrs Cross.

“Gradually the problem got better and Ellie was so happy. The treatment Ellie received from Christine was honestly like a miracle.”

Ms Charters-Young said the aim of the fund was to ensure children could benefit from alternative therapies even if they could not afford them.

“My over-riding passion and goal is to ensure that all people are supported in trying to achieve optimum health,” said Mrs Charters-Young. “I truly believe that many of the problems people have can be helped enormously with therapeutic activities.”

The fund has been supported by a number of donors, including a �950 from the Co-operative Bank.

Anyone wanting to support the fund, or to find out more, should contact Ms Charters-Young on 01223 654552 or e-mail healing-house@uwclub.net.