Tissue from a 23-year-old university graduate who died following a road crash is being donated to 20 people.

Yesterday the funeral of Clare Ekins took place in Boreham, where she lived with her parents, Graham and Evie Ekins.

Her parents said their only child was a keen believer in organ donation and they had agreed that her body should be used to help burns victims, children with heart and joint conditions and people with eyesight problems.

Mr and Mrs Ekins' decision was praised by The National Blood Service, which organises tissue donation, and a spokesman said it was rare for so many people to benefit from the death of one person.

Clare worked in Stisted and had recently graduated from Essex University.

"It is a great comfort to us to know Clare will continue to help people over the next few months and even years," said Mr Ekins, who is assistant headteacher at St John Payne School, Chelmsford, which was closed for the funeral.

Clare died in the accident at Little Waltham on January 25.

Published Friday, February 11, 2005

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