Family's bid to raise money in Oswaldtwistle teenager's memory

8:40pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

THE FAMILY and friends of a teenager who died of a severe allergic reaction are hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

Francesca Sanna, 19, who had asthma and food allergies, died at her Oswaldtwistle home last October after coming into contact with an unknown ingredient.

Now her friends and family are raising funds and awareness of her allergy condition, known as anaphylaxis, with a football game at Accrington Stanley's ground, the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

On the night she died, Francesca had been preparing to go out with friends but began to have breathing difficulties after leaving her house in Fielding Lane. She died of anaphylactic shock within minutes of returning home, despite being injected with an epinephrine pen she carried for emergencies.

Her family, who run Franco's restaurant in Union Road, believe the reaction could have been triggered by an ingedient in her toothpaste but the exact cause has never been established.

Francesca's brother Domenico, teacher Paul Mercer and friends Simon Trickett, Mitch Taylor and Gemma Barnes have organised the match between teachers and former pupils from her old school, Rhyddings High.

The match will be on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5, and they have sold 600 tickets to the event so far.

A host of other fundraisers, including a car wash at Accrington's Asda on May 24, will also raise awareness for the The Anaphylaxis Campaign, which aims to improve research into the condition. The whole community has backed their bid, with children at Oswaldtwistle's Early Start Nursery taking part in an upcoming sponsored bounce-athon' and Accrington Lions planning a 10-mile run in Francesca's memory on May 11.

Close friend and fundraiser Gemma Barnes, 20, said the shock of the tragedy had an indescribable effect on all who knew Francesca, who was known as Mim. Gemma and Francesca first met aged 11 as new pupils at Rhyddings High. The pair were soon firm friends and played the "steel pots" in the school caribbean band at numerous Accrington carnivals.

Gemma said: "Francesca was ace - so happy all the time and she made the most of her life. You never saw her without a smile on her face. It was such a shock when she died and it shouldn't happen to anyone else."

Francesca's brother Domenico said: "We're overwhelmed that everyone has gone to all this effort, it's fantastic. We're hoping that it's not just going to be about the money as raising awareness of the condition is very important."

Gates open at the stadium on Monday May 5 at 1.30pm for a 3pm kick-off. Entry is a minimum donation of £2 or £1 for under 12s. To find out more contact Rhyddings High School on 01254 231 051 or visit www.rhyddings.lancs.sch.uk/match4mim.

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