A BIG-hearted Bisto fan bathed in gravy to raise £500 for Halesowen teenager Grace Kalinski, who was paralysed from the neck down by meningitis.

Eleven-year-old Joshua Redden was inspired to help the brave 19-year-old, a past pupil at Our Lady and St Kenelm’s RC Primary School, where he is in year six.

His teacher, Kevin Brown, taught Grace, who went on to study at Hagley RC and Halesowen College, and told them of her plight after being hit by a devastating bout of bacterial meningitis in February.

The whole school have been writing Christmas cards and Joshua and his classmates have also written letters to send to her at the spinal injuries unit in Southport where she is being cared for.

Joshua sat for 40 minutes in the bath made up with two large tubs of Bisto granules until turning nauseas.

He said: “My teacher, Mr Brown, told us about Grace and I wanted to do something to help. I like lots of gravy on my dinners so I decided to have a bath in it.”

“It was horrible, but at the same time quite comfortable.”

The Bundle Hill school has also raised about £900 so far from its Christmas raffle, junior carol service and nativity programme sales for Grace.

Headteacher Christine Finnegan said Grace, who was an altar server at the church, said was well remembered by many of the staff and the school was planning an on-going fundraising campaign to support her.

Grace’s mum Debbie Kalinski, said it was “touching” that she was still considered part of the school and church community.

Mrs Kalinski, husband Jan and other family members are spending Christmas in Southport at their daughter’s bedside and hope to bring her home in the New Year.