A CHARITY which has raised almost £100,000 in memory of a teenager who died almost nine years ago is set to close on the 10th anniversary of her death.

Emma Curtis-Smith, from Chipping Norton, below, passed away in 2005, after suffering a heart attack brought on by a collapsed lung.

Oxford Mail:

The teenager collapsed on Tuesday, June 21, while watching her then-boyfriend at his passing-out parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

Asthma sufferer Emma was rushed to Surrey’s Frimley Park Hospital where she was resuscitated but died three days later on June 24, aged 18.

In the wake of her death, her family launched Emma’s Trust and have worked tirelessly to raise money in her name.

But after awarding more than £95,000 to causes across Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire, the family have decided to bring their work to a close next year.

Stepfather Gary Creese, 54, married to her mum Maggi, 54, said: “Emma was an extraordinary young lady, a very positive person. She was somebody who would have gone on to great things.

“It has been really hard work. After 10 years we think we have probably exhausted everybody’s energy and everybody’s good will.

“We think that we have probably done as much as we possibly can do and far more than we thought we could do.

“We have had a real core of support from the Chipping Norton community. They have been brilliant.

“It is very humbling and I am proud that we have given all that money away. It’s quite extraordinary.”

Emma, who was a sports science student at Henley-in-Arden College, worked as a lifeguard at The Lido, in Fox Close, and also attended Chipping Norton School of Dance for more than 10 years.

Her family decided the charity would support young people aged up to 21 involved with sports or performing arts. They have given money to a number of groups around the county including The Lido.

Before winding up the charity, the family plans to continue fundraising to reach their £100,000 target.

For more information, see emmastrust.com

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