EMILIE Parry-Williams, crowned Miss Monmouthshire in April this year, has raised over £700 for Alzheimers UK.

Emilie, who is training to be a classical singer, took to the stage to raise money for the charity. She sang at her grandfather Fred Williams's funeral, raising £700 and also sang for David Davies at a Conservative Party fundraiser. Emilie said:

"I sang O Mio Babbino Caro and Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera and raised £50 for Alzheimer's UK at the Conservative fundraiser. I am hoping to do more singing events where I'll ask for a donation as opposed to a fee. I love to sing and it's important to me to raise money for an Alzheimer's charity as it's such an awful disease.

"I'm not sure how much exactly I have raised in total, but my charity boxes at home are slowly filling up. When they're full I'll look forward to counting it up and seeing what I have raised.

"Since looking after my grandpa who had vascular dementia the last four years, I got to see how the disease can totally take the person you know away and leave someone completely different behind. It was heart-breaking to see such an amazing man forget some of the things he had worked his whole life for and forgetting people's faces and memories. This is why it is so important for me to raise money for Alzheimer's UK and to help support the charity as much as I can.

"I'm hoping to make a CD this year and proceeds from that will also go to the charity."