TWO devoted Christchurch teachers are pooling the talents of the local arts community to help raise funds for a cause close to their hearts.

Art teachers Pippa Burnard and Gary Mant from Twynham and Highcliffe are organising a special art exhibition to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

They have been inspired by 13-year-old Jenny “Wren” Palmer, who suffers from the disease.

Jenny, who is passionate about the wren – with a sketchbook full of drawings to prove it – is working with the pair to put on the exhibition at The Winchester in Bournemouth next month.

Jenny, whose 19-year-old brother Alex also has the condition, said: “I’m so excited.

“Miss told me to write a story and I did, and now we’re doing this.

“I love everything about school and I’m enjoying helping with this.”

Pippa and Gary, inspired by Jenny’s story, hope to compile an installation of 40 drawings, paintings and images of wrens from different artists for the event on March 29 and 30.

They will also be showing their own artwork at the exhibition which will have a private view on March 29 and 7.30pm public opening on March 3.

Pippa said: “I cried when I read the story Jenny had written.

“And it gave me the idea to hold an exhibition for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

“This is a really important cause. Jenny is such a positive person. She exudes joy.”

Jenny’s father, Ivan Palmer, who is chairman of the East Dorset branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust added: “The Trust receives no government funding so every penny counts towards new ground-breaking research. It’s so vital.”

Jenny's tale

“ONE day, out of the blue, a white husky feather lightly fell in front of a girl.

“She picked it up and received an angelic presence.

“Something told her to follow this raggedy woodland path.

“Where, out of the ordinary there were overgrown delicate snowdrops, which meant hope.

“So she followed this spiritual path for 25 days in January.

“This girl’s dream is to help her and everyone’s Cystic Fibrosis and to become an Angel.

“So she followed this unique claw-like path that holds such pain, suffering and frustration.

“After 25 days it came out to an angelic, powerful mystic world of dreams that made her feel a healing presence into her crystal world full of angels.

“As she steps further into this new world she turns into an angel and her illness improves.

“Everything she suffered led to freedom and allowed her to help others.”