AN ANDOVER teenager, who is preparing to take on a charity sky-dive in memory of a friend, has smashed her fundraising target with a family friendly fun day.

Casey O’Neill raised more than £750 for mental health support charity Papyrus at the event, held at the Wolversdene Club on Saturday, June 10.

Around 100 people attended the fun day, which included activities such as a face painting stall, a bouncy castle and a barbecue.

The £768 raised on the day will be added to the £838 that the 17-year-old collected prior to the event.

The Merlin Pub, on Atholl Court, has also donated £100, meaning the King Arthur’s Way teenager has raised £1,706 ahead of her skydive in July.

Talking about the event, Casey said: “I felt overwhelmed. I cried so much because it felt amazing.

“I’m now less than £300 away from reaching £2,000 so that’s my new target.”

As previously reported in the Advertiser, the soon-to-be Andover College student began her fundraising campaign following the loss of a close friend to suicide.

The teenager, who asked for her friend not be named, said she wanted to raise the money to support charities that could help others like her friend.

Asked how her friend would have reacted to her fundraising efforts, Casey said: “I think he would be really, really proud of me and really grateful that I was doing this in his memory.

“I just wish I could have done all this when he was here, but I’m happy that I’m making people realise that there are other options.”

She added: “I would also like to thank Kerry Allen who helped me organise the event.

"She did just as much as me.”

Casey will now take on her skydiving challenge, which takes place near Salisbury on July 6.