Teesside epilepsy trust fund reaches £60,000 milestone
- Published
Abbie Clarke was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of five
A trust fund set up in the memory of 10-year-old Teesside girl has raised £60,000 to help epilepsy sufferers.
Abbie Clarke, from Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, died in her sleep from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (Sudep) in December 2006.
Her parents Tracey and Richard set up a trust fund to help develop a children's epilepsy database.
Cash from the fund has also been used to set up a support group for families run by specialist epilepsy nurses.
The family have worked closely with staff at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, where Annie was treated.
Mr Clarke said: "The money has come from all sorts of fundraisers, including our annual walk which raised £5,000.
"We will continue to work closely with James Cook to help young people with epilepsy and ensure Abbie's legacy lives on."
Consultant paediatrician at the hospital Dr Ramesh Kumar said: "The fundraising efforts of Richard and Tracy and the generosity of their friends and family have absolutely overwhelmed us over the past four years.
"Deaths from epilepsy are extremely rare but Abbie's trust fund is certainly helping us to make a difference to children with epilepsy."