A brave little girl with a bright personality is continuing to light up lives even after her death.

The heartbroken family of six-year-old Darcie Ling have donated her organs for transplant and offered hope to four desperately sick patients.

Their selfless gesture means that a two-year-old girl received a new heart and a baby of one got the liver he needed. Two more patients were able to undergo life-saving kidney transplants and another individual has had his sight restored.

Last week children and staff at Hogarth Primary School in Riseway, Brentwood, paid their own special tribute to their much missed young friend.

Pupils, teachers and assistants wore their brightest clothes and held a cake sale to raise money for the garden they hope to create in Darcie's memory.

Darcie, whose family live in Brentwood, suffered from diabetes. She was taken seriously ill in February with an unknown infection and was treated in the children's intensive are ward at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. She died due to the added complications of her diabetes.

Since then her extended family has raised more than £5,000 for the children's ward and Diabetic Association.

Hogarth head teacher John Howells said: "Darcie was such an unbelievable girl who had such a positive effect on everybody she met.

Teaching assistants Lynda Lazell and Jean Reilly are taking part in a sponsored walk later this month.

Anyone who would like to support the garden for Darcie project, or the Ling family's fundraising should contact Hogarth Primary School on 01277 212216.

Published Monday June 14, 2004

Brought to you by the Brentwood Gazette