A WOLLASTON teenager with a brain condition has helped to raise more than £1,000 for the hospital that treated her.

Megan Lander, aged 14, first realised something was wrong when she began suffering from piercing headaches and getting severe back pain when she sneezed, laughed or coughed.

Following an MRI scan at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, she was diagnosed with chiari malformation, which has caused the lowest part at the back of her brain, the cerebellar tonsils, to be pushed downwards towards the spinal canal.

Her mother, Kaye Lander, said the condition had caused cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to become trapped in the Ridgewood High School pupil's spinal cord but it is hoped the operation she had at Birmingham Children's Hospital in February will ease the symptoms.

The 37-year-old, of Larkhill Road, added: "The operation made her skull bigger, which will give the brain more room. It can take 12 to 18 months for the brain to move into the position that it should be in and then hopefully the fluid from the spinal cord will start to drain.

"There is no cure, she will always have headaches and back and neck pain but hopefully it won't be as bad as before."

Miss Lander said the condition was "a bit of a life changer" for Megan as the active teen, who was a keen ice skater and dancer before her diagnoses, will now need to take extra care when taking part in sport.

She said when Megan came out of hospital, she wanted to do something to say thank you to the ward staff that looked after her, adding: "Most children can get sponsored for doing stuff but there is not a lot she could so at the moment so we decided to put on a disco."

The event was held at The Brambles, Dudley , on May 17, and a host of activities on the night including a raffle and auction, helped to raise £1,165.

Miss Lander added: "Our goal was £500 so Megan was over the moon."