Family and friends of Elouise Keeling - who died from a “catastrophic” asthma attack - have held a charity obstacle race on what would have been her 19th birthday.
The 5K event has so far raised £2,500 towards the Elouise Keeling Asthma Trust set up in memory of Ellie, who was 14 when she died during an Air Cadets’ sports day at RAF Brampton.
Charity trustee Sophie Jeffries said: “Our aim is to reduce the unnecessary suffering of children with asthma and prevent deaths like Ellie’s.
“On Saturday, March 24, it was Ellie’s 19th birthday and to mark this special day 81 of Ellie’s friends and family took part in a 5K obstacle race. Ellie loved nothing better than spending time having fun and giggling with family and friends, so this was a fitting tribute to a beautiful young lady on her birthday.”
Sophie said: “All funds raised will go towards providing training and resources to local hospitals, schools and community groups.
“This work is really starting to get under way and we are delighted to have just funded Monkey Wellbeing resources and activity packs for children with asthma under the care of Hinchingbrooke Hospital.”
Ellie, from Ellington, a long-term asthma patient, went to the Air Cadet event in June 2013 but suffered an asthma attack. She was able to call her mother, who went to collect her, but her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was unconscious when her mother arrived.
An inquest heard that an ambulance was called but was mistakenly sent to RAF Wyton, some miles away, which shared the same postcode.
When medics, including an air ambulance crew, arrived at Brampton they made desperate attempts to revive Ellie but were unsuccessful.
The inquest heard that Ellie’s asthma attack was so severe it was unlikely that the Hinchingbrooke School student could have been saved even if the ambulance had gone to the right address first.
The ambulance service carried out an internal investigation as a result of the tragedy which led to a number of changes in the way it operated.
After Ellie’s death her parents Karen and Paul set up the trust and one of its aims was to improve training for people who supervise asthmatic children.
Donations can be made to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/theelouisekeelingasthmatrust.
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