A group of friends in Waterford have come together with local businesses and a football club to give a woman battling cervical cancer a very special surprise, transforming her back garden in just four days.

When Ellie was diagnosed with cervical cancer, her friends wanted to do something meaningful to support her while she underwent treatment.

With Ellie spending time at home with her two children during what has been an incredibly difficult period, the group came up with an idea, to transform her back garden at Presentation Gardens in Waterford City into a peaceful space where she could relax, make memories with her children and have somewhere to enjoy during her recovery.

What started as an idea among friends quickly turned into a remarkable community effort.

The group reached out to local businesses McCarthy’s Tramore and Port Láirge Driveways & Patios, asking if they would be willing to help with the project.

Both businesses immediately got behind the idea and offered their support, while Southend Football Club also stepped forward to help raise money for the project.

Through the generosity, time and hard work of everyone involved, Ellie’s garden was completely transformed in just four days.

The entire project was kept secret from Ellie, meaning she had no idea what her friends, the businesses and Southend FC were planning behind the scenes.

For her friends, the aim was never simply to create a beautiful garden. It was about giving Ellie and her two children somewhere special to spend time together while she faces the challenges of cancer treatment.

The group now want to publicly recognise the incredible generosity shown by everyone who helped make the surprise possible.

In the space of just four days, an ordinary back garden was turned into a place for Ellie and her children to relax, spend time together and make memories, all thanks to a group of friends who wanted to do something special and a community that was willing to help make it happen.