A nurse who suffered a broken back in two places has vowed not to be deterred in her efforts to raise money for the new children's ward at St Mary's Hospital .

Mother of two Heather Hanna is a senior research nurse at the children's intensive care unit which is currently raising money for its proposed expansion.

She had planned to take part in the 150ft abseil down the hospital's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother building on April 27.

Despite fracturing two of her vertebrae last week in a horse riding accident, Hanna, who has been a nurse for 32 years, is still committed to raising the money in celebration of her 50th birthday this year.

She said: "I am hoping people will donate to the appeal instead of giving me presents. Raising money is a great way to celebrate being alive for 50 years and give something back at the same time."

An artist's impression of the new Children's Intensive Care Unit at St Mary's

The children's ICU is expanding from it's current eight-bed ward, which treats 400 children a year to a new 15-bed, state of the art facility that will allow for care of an extra 200 children. In 2015, the ward had to refuse 233 sick children because of lack of space.

Along with the near doubling of beds, there will also be new equipment, a dedicated parents' room and a private room allowing space for doctors and nurses to provide emotional support and care to families whose children are very seriously ill.

The expansion is a £10m project, £2m of which will have to be raised by the St Mary’s Hospital More Smiles Appeal, a collaboration between COSMIC (Children of St Mary's Intensive Care) and Imperial College Healthcare Charity.

COSMIC was set up in 1994, a year after a critically acclaimed documentary "Cries of Alarm", which followed the ICUs founder Dr Parviz Habibi and his treatment of meningitis patients at the ward. It has many high profile supporters including the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton ; actress and writer Fay Ripley and the late Sir Terry Wogan .

Heather has raised £610 for the appeal so far , smashing her £500 target, and shows no sign of slowing down.

"I'm spurred on thinking about the children I have met in the children's intensive care unit over the years that have shown extreme bravery when they haven't had a choice," she said.

To find out more about the St Mary’s Hospital ‘More Smiles Appeal’, telephone 020 3312 6179. You can stay up to date with the appeal through the appeal website or on Twitter @MoreSmilesApp.