A COUPLE who put their heartbreak to one side to raise money for research into a killer disease have raised £500 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

Mandy and George Mitchell organised last Saturday's horse show at Hill Crest Arena, Sunniside, following the death of their champion Welsh Cob Avon Valley Tidy.

Entrants travelled from all over the region to support the show, which was so successful that another has been booked for next year at the same venue.

Mrs Mitchell said: "We put £200 of our money into a bank account as a memorial to Tidy and used that to pay for everything, but we got it back on the day through last minute entries and a raffle.

"We actually raised £700, but we have put £200 to one side again so we have the cash to set next year's show off."

"People were not only paying to enter the classes, they were also coming along with donations and sending cheques through the post."

The rest of the cash has been gratefully received by the Moredun Foundation, which relies entirely on donations targeted towards finding the cause of the mystery illness.

So far it has helped develop a special nursing regime, pioneered by a team at the "Dick" veterinary school in Edinburgh, where it subsidises the cost.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should send it to the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, The Moredun Foundation, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 OPZ.

There is also a website explaining its work and the devastating effect of the disease on www.grasssickness.org.uk.

Results from the Avon Valley Tidy Memorial Show in aid of equine grass sickness are as follows. - Champion mountain & moorland: Malnor Forest King, owned by R Iceton.

Champion any other breed: Megland Dreamboy, owned by J Hedley.

Champion ridden mountain & moorland: Ludworth Adami, ridden by A Cussons.

Champion ridden any other breed: Visions Dance, ridden by S Bennett.

Supreme in-hand champion: Malnor Forest King. Supreme ridden champion: Ludworth Adami.