A GRIEVING family are raising money for the air ambulance and a hospital which fought to save their daughter’s life.

Debbie Rooke, a science teacher from Westcliff, died after being hit by a car while cycling in Norfolk.

Debbie, 31, was airlifted by the East Anglian Air Ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after the incident and was treated in the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit.

She died on April 13 and after signing th organ donor register her organs were donated to help save others lives.

Her parents Joy and David Rooke, of Beedell Avenue, Westcliff, have decided to support the two charities as a thank you.

They said: “We want to express our thanks to the air ambulance, all the emergency services involved and the staff of Addenbrookes Hospital A&E and NCCU.

“The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their overwhelming kindness, which has taken many forms, at what has been a very distressing time.

“We would also like to thank the headteacher, staff and pupils of De La Salle School for their sensitivity and care.“ Debbie was a popular teacher at De Le Salle School in Basildon, where books of condolence and a small shrine has been created in the playground in her memory.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday May 7 at 1.45pm at the church Debbie attended St Helens Roman Catholic Church, Milton Road, Westcliff.