THE family and friends of a toddler who died hours after suddenly contracting Meningitis are to hold a huge charity event to raise money for the medical team which battled to save her short life.

Gracie Langston, of Alderton Hall Lane in Loughton, was just one-and-a-half years old when she was taken ill while at Montessori Pre School nursery back in November 2007.

She was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital where she was diagnosed with a chest infection and discharged, but was rushed back again when her mother noticed she had developed a rash.

Gracie was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital but medical staff were unable to save her.

“It was so scary. Within five hours she went from being a normal healthy child to being dead,” said Gracie's mother, Jo Ashley-Russell.

“It was so awful. She had been vaccinated but you can't protect against all types of it. I only noticed the rash when I was changing her nappy and by then it was almost too late.

“The speed of it was shocking. Within 15 minutes the rash had gone from being small spots to covering most of her body.”

The family are now hoping for something positive to come out of the tragedy with a grand family funday next Sunday (July 18) from 1pm at the Football Academy in Langston Road, Loughton.

It will include five-a-side soccer tournaments for both adults and children, a bouncy castle, a raffle, lots of activities for kids, a BBQ, and guest appearances by a some famous faces.

The day was dreamt up by football-mad six-year-old Stanley Nash, whose family used to be neighbours with Gracie's family.

His mum, Lucy Nash, said: “Gracie was like a sister to my children and we've all been really keen to hold an event like this. We hope it will be a nice tribute to her.”

All cash raised from the day will go to the Children's Acute Transport Service (CATS), who specialise in transferring seriously ill children between hospitals.

Ms Ashley-Russell said: “The doctors told us that having the chest infection probably allowed the Meningitis bacteria to enter her blood stream and when Meningitis works at that speed sometimes there is just nothing that can be done, but without the CATS team Gracie wouldn't of even had a chance.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/GracieMayBluebell to donate to Gracie's fund.