A 15-year-old Gaither High School student born with a brittle bone disease is continuing to give back.

“It’s a condition that affects my height and my bones to where simple things like falling down as a toddler or trying to learn how to walk could end up in a broken leg or a broken arm,” said Leigh Dittman.

By the time Dittman was just 3-years-old, she had gone through three different surgeries at Shriners Hospital in Tampa, a place she calls her second home.

“Some of my earliest memories are at the hospital,” Dittman said. “It’s very welcoming. There are lots of kids and the staff there is wonderful. They’re like my second family.”

Ever since her third birthday, Dittman has been asking party guests to donate to the hospital, rather than bring gifts.

The effort soon turned into an annual fundraiser, the 11th of which was held Saturday.

Dittman is only about $100,000 off her lifelong goal of fundraising $1 million.

“It’s been amazing,” Dittman said. “It’s been because of the support of the community.”

For more information, visit http://www.leighdittman.com/index.html.