Two Witham children who died of meningitis are to be commemorated with a plaque on hospital equipment bought with money raised by their grieving mothers and friends.

The mothers -- Faye Joseph and Winnie Austin, both of Virgil Road, Witham -- say that it will help keep their memories alive.

The names of six-year-old Rochelle Joseph and 14-year-old Lee Smith are going on to two humidifiers which help intensive care patients at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, to breathe more comfortably.

The two mothers, together with Mrs Hazel Hadgraft, former landlady of Witham's Woolpack pub, raised just over £4,000.

Mrs Joseph said: "We are delighted that their names will be on a plaque. It helps keep their names alive."

The inscription will read: "Donated in the memory of Rochelle Joseph and Lee Smith."

Rochelle died in March 1999 and Lee in February 1995.

The money raised by the group has also provided a television set and chairs for the hospital's intensive treatment unit.

"We started raising money about 18 months ago," said Mrs Joseph. "Winnie and I, and friends, organised events such as a sponsored head shave, discos, and a dance show at Witham Public Hall.

"It was Winnie who started the ball rolling, and I felt that I wanted to do something in Rochelle's memory as well.

"We knew that some specialised equipment was available at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Rochelle was taken, but not at Broomfield, so we decided to do something about it."

For Winnie Austin, now remarried since the death of her son, Lee, fund-raising has given her the opportunity of doing something for those who are ill, as well as creating a memorial.

"For both Faye and I, it was important that our children be remembered," she said. "This has helped, but doing something for those alive and ill has also been important.

"We have other fund-raising planned and will continue to raise money both for the Meningitis Trust, which carries out research into the illness, and for Broomfield Hospital," she said.

Mrs Hadgraft said: "Everyone at the pub was really marvellous, and one man raised about £2,000 on his own by running a marathon. It was a tremendous effort by everyone.

"I am very glad the two children will be remembered in this way."

Faye Joseph with a picture of her daughter, Rochelle.

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