A FOUNDATION set up in memory of a medical student from West Mersea is celebrating ten years as a registered charity.

The Catherine Bullen Foundation was set up in memory of Catherine Bullen, aged 22, a fifth year medical student at Bristol University.

In August 2002, she began a safari in Namibia prior to clinical placements in hospitals in Zambia and Tanzania.

Two days into her travels, she fell ill with severe gastroenteritis, which proved fatal.

Her parents, Linda and Roger Bullen, from West Mersea, have described their daughter as having a caring and friendly personality, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Mr Bullen said: “We have surprised ourselves over the last ten years – it has been an exciting time.

“We have a lot of support in the community and we have been very lucky.”

After the former Colchester County High School for Girls student’s death, about £6,000 was donated in her memory.

Since the foundation was set up, money has been put towards a water project in Namibia, a primary school in the Omaheke region, which often went without water, and a new clinic to replace the one where Catherine died.

The clinic at Otjimanangombe, which opened in 2008, has provided employment for two nurses, a cleaner, and two security guards, and cost £100,000.

The Memorial Fund was formalised in July 2005.

The aims of the charity are to relieve poverty, sickness and distress in rural Namibia by providing fresh water supplies, and medical and educational facilities.

Since then, Mr and Mrs Bullen have visited Namibia twice a year to monitor the foundation’s projects.

They pay for their own flights and living expenses, ensuring all money raised by the charity goes to projects. Mr Bullen said: “We are made to feel at home when we are there. They call us mum and dad.”

Some of their highlights over the past ten years include passing over another clinic to Namibia last year, which was funded by the Government.

Mr and Mrs Bullen found it “overwhelming”.

Another notable memory was when Mrs Bullen received an MBE, recognising the work of the charity and celebrating the work she does as a nurse in the clinics.

Since 2002, the Catherine Bullen Memorial Foundation has raised £339,000.

Catherine’s parents already have a lot of sustainable projects planned for the future, including community projects such as building a new kindergarten.

Mr Bullen said: “I don’t think we will ever stop, we have so many people who are helping us.”

If you wish to support the foundation’s work in Namibia and would like to make a donation, visit www.namibia-aid.org .uk and go to the ‘donate’ page.