A COUPLE of charity matches organised by Prestatyn Town Football Club raised roughly £700 for a woman who will not be able to walk again after she was hit by a car in Meliden.
Vania Tong, an English and drama teacher at Prestatyn High School, suffered a serious spinal injury after being hit by a car on Ffordd Talargoch on June 19.
She was airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, where it was found she had suffered severe damage to her spinal cord.
Prestatyn Town has pledged to donate money raised from two home friendlies at Bastion Gardens, a 3-0 win against Denbigh Town on July 15 and a 2-1 defeat to Buckley Town on August 2, to Vania and her family.
Chris Dean, the club’s general manager, also has foster children who are pupils at Prestatyn High School, where Vania teaches.
He said: “About £700 was raised (across the two games), which is quite a good amount. I was happy with that, and hopefully it will get better and better.
“Every little helps. It’s going to be passed on to someone in the family.”
Vania and her husband, Stu, were both understandably touched by the gesture.
A JustGiving page has also been set up by her daughter, Agnes, which has raised more than £10,000.
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Having spent the last six weeks in Stoke, on the hospital’s orthopaedic ward, Vania was today transferred to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, Oswestry.
She is expected to spend the next three of four months there as she continues her rehabilitation, said Stu, who added that any further donations from now on will be used to assist Vania's recovery.
Stu added: “It (money raised by Prestatyn Town) is absolutely incredible news. We’ve got some money to see us over now. The money raised has made these visits (to see Vania in Stoke) possible.
“As a family, we’re obviously struggling emotionally, but we’re remaining strong. We’re pulling together, and Vania has been absolutely incredible. Her positivity is amazing.
“(By moving hospitals) the journey time will be cut, however we’re not able to see her now for a few days. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see her again soon.
“It’s (daughter) Daisy’s 18th birthday tomorrow, and our wedding anniversary on Saturday, so we’re going to miss those important events.
“It’ll be a minimum of 12 weeks’ rehab, but it could be longer – between three and four months. That’s the main struggle at the moment for us; the amount of time we’re spending apart.
“Quite a few people have sent well-wishes and messages hoping that Vania makes a full recovery. She is now a paraplegic; her spinal cord is severed, and she won’t walk again.
“But we’re very, very grateful (for the help and support offered).”
You can donate to the JustGiving page yourself by visiting: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/agnes-tong.
Police have also urged anyone who witnessed the incident in Meliden on June 19 to get in touch by calling 101 or via their website, quoting reference B088996.
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