A charity dinner at Knebworth Barns in memory of Poppy Gray from Henlow who died aged just 17 months, raised over �12,000. It had been hoped to raise �5,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital but by the end of the evening generous guests had contributed �12

A charity dinner at Knebworth Barns in memory of Poppy Gray from Henlow who died aged just 17 months, raised over �12,000.

It had been hoped to raise �5,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital but by the end of the evening generous guests had contributed �12,276.27 to the hospital.

"It was a fantastic event, a great way to remember a very special little girl and to raise money for a cause so close to our hearts," said a statement from Poppy's parents Phillipa and Scott.

"It was wonderful to see so many of our friends and family there to support us. It really made it a night to remember. All thanks and credit goes to Tara Biucchi and to Clive Andrews for working tirelessly to make the evening such a success."

"It was a fantastic sum to raise in Poppy's memory," said Mrs Biucchi of Montgomery Avenue.

"Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity needs to raise over �50 million each year to make sure the hospital remains the world-class pioneering institution it is today.

"Support from fundraising events like ours helps them buy vital equipment, fund pioneering research and most importantly rebuild and refurbish some of the hospital sites and replace cramped, outdated wards with new facilities where parents can sleep alongside their child and will mean that children have more space in which to get well."

Poppy was a normal health little girl until Christmas 2005, when aged 15 months she fell ill with what doctors thought was a chest infection. But during medical checks a heart murmur was detected.

It soon became clear her condition was far more serious and tests at Great Ormond Street Hospital showed Poppy had cardiomyopathy, where the heart becomes enlarged and pumps blood less effectively.

Tragically, Poppy lost her fight for life on February 15, 2006.