A new mother, moved to tears by a toddler's recent accident, has set up a charity to help with the child's medical cost.

Lori Burchall, of Somerset, was heart-broken when she learned of three-year-old Derik Dill's collision with a taxi, in a Government playground, which landed the toddler in the hospital with serious injuries.

The little girl, who celebrates her fourth birthday this week, may never walk normally again as her hip has been permanently damaged from the accident which took place at Shelly Bay Park on August 22.

Upon reading about Derik's accident in The Royal Gazette last week, Ms Burchall set about trying to help the child and her mother Angela.

"My heart prompted me to do this,'' explained Ms Burchall. "I'm a new mother and when I thought of anyone knocking my child over and then not caring about what they did -- I just knew I had to do something.'' Police initially said that they could not do anything about the accident because it occurred on private property, not a highway.

And the driver of the taxi, Eugene Bean, maintained that the child ran in front of his cab and said he had no intentions of contacting the Dill family.

"When I read the first story about the accident it broke my heart,'' she recalled. "And when I saw the second story it broke even more.

"Even though it may appear as though the child may be at fault, it really doesn't matter who was responsible. I can't believe how things have transpired -- it seemed like, `ok, she was knocked down and that's it'.

"If it was me driving and even if it was not my fault I can't imagine not calling the family to see how the child is doing.'' After media reports of the mishap, Police launched an investigation into the accident and Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay personally visited the tyke and her mother in the hospital last week to personally convey his concerns for the child's health.

Despite the action by the authorities, Ms Burchall contacted a local charity Thursday morning and set up a post office box which would receive donations for little Derik.

"I talked to her mother and she said that Derik may need to go away for further treatment, so I'm trying to raise funds for that,'' she said. "A specialist is coming down to look at her and then a decision will be made.'' Since the August accident, Ms Dill has been by her daughter's hospital bedside. And the mother of three, which includes a six-month old baby, has had to miss a lot of work to be with her sick child.

"I know what it is like to be strapped for cash,'' Ms Burchall noted. "I decided that instead of my heart just going out to this family I was going to do something.

"Whatever money is collected will definitely go to the mother. She has missed a lot of work and she is not getting paid for the time she is missing.'' She added: "I have already set up a savings account to accept the money and Wings of Love, an established Christian charity that I have volunteered for in the past, agreed to help me with this since a registered charity has to collect any donations. So we are all ready to go!'' Anyone interested in donating funds can mail them to P.O. Box HM304, Hamilton HMFX. All cheques should be addressed to Angela Dill c/o Wings of Love.