CHEPSTOW'S St Mary's RC school checkmated for a great cause last Monday (14th April), raising £950 pounds to go towards an operation for Portskewett toddler Imogen Ashwell-Lewis by playing chess.

The school organised the chess day with Bulgarian chess champion Marian Petrov, which saw a series of 'simultaneous play' where the 26 players were seated in a giant square, with Mr. Petrov moving around the inside playing one move at a time.

The group ranged from seven to 11 years old, as well as three of the children's fathers having a crack at the grand master, all raising sponsorship for the day.

The idea was hatched by keen chess player Julie Macintosh, whose two children were amongst the players on the day and was herself once the captain of the English girls junior chess team.

Ms Macintosh, who organises the school's chess club as well as a club in Chepstow Library, was approached by Imogen's 10-year-old sister Rosie-Cayte Ashwell-Lewis, an avid chess player, with the intention of raising sponsorship.

"Rosie came up to me in the playground and asked me if we could raise some money," Ms Macintosh said.

"Chess improves concentration, logic, sportsmanship and discipline. The charity Chess in Schools and Communities provided us with free chess sets and we've been playing since last September."

The tournament ended with smiles all round, as Rosie-Cayte presented the Bulgarian master with a red plush Welsh dragon for his own daughter back home.

Rosie-Cayte showed her chess finesse by drawing with the grand master.

Imogen, who suffers from spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy caused by an 11-week premature birth, is in need of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment to enable her to walk unaided, which requires £40,000 to be raised.

The toddler has had a few very busy weeks, culminating in raising over £12,000.

Last Saturday (12th April) the smiley little girl officially opened a new juice bar in Chepstow- The Orange Crate. The bar has pledged £1 to Imogen per juice sold in her name. The dedicated recipe is a refreshing combination of apple, carrot and lemon.

Imogen's mother Catherine Ashwell-Rice joked that if the juice was to be made up entirely of Imogen's favourite things it would taste a little different.

"We would be drinking cheesy pasta with salmon and asparagus," she said.

On Sunday 13th April the Chepstow and District Vintage Club did a rally of vintage tractors in aid of Imogen, driving from

Chepstow to Raglan.

If you would like to support The Help Imogen Walk campaign please visit: http://www.just">www.just

giving.com/helpimogenwalk

Ahead of the Severn Bridge Half Marathon, running t-shirts are being printed and will be sold for £15 with all proceeds going to Imogen's fund. Visit: http://www.facebook.com/help">www.facebook.com/help-

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