FOOTBALLER Jack Grealish has donated to a fundraiser set up in memory of an 18-year-old girl killed in a car crash last weekend.

Finlay Craen said the Aston Villa and England star was a “hero” to his sister Mia, who died in he accident in Southwater on Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old said Grealish donated £2,000 to the family’s GoFundMe appeal and sent him a personal message on social media site Instagram before sharing a link to the fundraiser with his 1.4 million followers.

The Argus: Mia played in goal for Horsham Hockey Club. Mia played in goal for Horsham Hockey Club.

Finlay said: “Mia would have loved that because she was a really big fan of him, so it’s amazing that everyone’s hard work got the fundraiser to reach him and for him to actually see it.”

Mia was a keen sportswoman.

She was a member of Horsham Triathlon Club, Atlantis Swimming Club and played for Sparrows Football Club when she was aged six to eight.

But Finlay said that hockey had recently become his sister’s main sporting passion and that she “loved” playing in goal for Horsham Hockey Club.

The Argus: Aston Villa footballer Jack Grealish donated £2,000 to Mia's fundraiser.Aston Villa footballer Jack Grealish donated £2,000 to Mia's fundraiser.

He said: “One of her favourite sports that she got heavily involved in over the last few years was hockey and she even played for Sussex at one point.

“She really enjoyed her hockey and the hockey club have been amazing in their fundraising efforts too.”

Despite only being set up on Tuesday, the fundraiser, set up to give Mia “the send-off she deserves”, has already raised more than £17,000.

It set out to collect just £1,500.

The Argus: Mia was a keen sportswoman.Mia was a keen sportswoman.

Finlay said that the support his family has received has been “amazing” and is a testament to just how well loved his sister was.

He said: “We weren’t expecting it to get anywhere near the amount it’s got and to go beyond the target.

“It shows how much she meant to people and how much her story really touched everyone.

“I just want to say thank you for all the support and all the comments and messages and all the donations. They are all greatly appreciated.”

Police continue to appeal for witnesses as officers look to establish the circumstances surrounding Mia’s death.

She was driving her white Fiat when she collided with a tree. The crash happened on the B2237 Worthing Road in Southwater, near Horsham, at about 12.30pm on Saturday.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Anyone who saw a white Fiat 500 travelling in the area immediately before the collision – or anyone who captured what happened on dash cam – is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Sunningdale.”

A GoFundMe Mia Craen can be found here.