CAR dealer Alan Old put the Esmee Godwin Fund on the road with the largest donation so far.

He handed over £1,000 to Esmee’s dad Chris to bolster his family’s bid to buy lifesaving medical equipment in her memory.

Chris and Gillian Godwin, of Fry Lane, Godmanstone, launched the fund after Esmee died aged two years three months in March 2007.

They aim to raise thousands of pounds for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital where Esmee battled her illnesses.

Chris, 33, said: “Our thanks go to Alan for his very generous donation, which is the largest to date.

“For him to come forward and donate such a large amount of money is brilliant.”

Chris added: “Equally we want to thank everyone else for their donations and support.

“We have had donations from 50 pence up to Alan’s £1,000. People have sent letters and cheques after reading about the fund in the Echo.

“Some haven’t left a name or note, so we just want to say thank you to them and everyone else who has supported us.”

Chris and Gillian’s other children are Joshua, seven, Thomas, five, Alisha-May, two, and baby Cairan.

Esmee died in 2007 after catching chicken pox and developing double pneumonia and infections.

Mr Old, of Olds of Portesham, presented the money just before the fund received another boost with a fundraiser at Digby Hall in Sherborne on Saturday night.

He said: “I read about Esmee in the Echo. My heartfelt feelings went out to Chris and Gillian, and in response I was pleased to be able to donate to the fund. I take my hat off to them for all of their fundraising efforts for the unit.”

Esmee’s godmother Debbie Nickless organised a concert for 200 people with Yeovil rock band Storm.

Debbie’s husband and Esmee’s godfather Anthony and Chris are set to step out with friends and family to raise more money by tackling the Three Peaks Challenge in June.

Chris said that the fund originally aimed to raise £20,000 but donations from companies have been hit by the recession.

Chris said that so far they had raised about £10,000 although it was difficult to estimate because of the different ongoing events.

The money will be used to buy whatever equipment the unit needs, although it most likely to be an open top incubator or something similar.

n Contact Chris on 01300 341004 to donate money or hold fundraising events.