FRIENDS and family of an Ipswich woman who died after suffering lung disease have presented £900 in her memory to the town's hospital.

FRIENDS and family of an Ipswich woman who died after suffering lung disease have presented £900 in her memory to the town's hospital.

Widow Hazel Sackschewski , 53, of Hawthorn Drive, had a lung transplant but sadly the treatment only gave her another nine months of life.

Friend Sue Dagnall, of Woodbridge, said: “Hazel was suffering from lung disease and was able to have a lung transplant, for which you have to wait until someone dies and is a donor.

“At first all seemed to go very well and we all thought she would be OK.

“However, sadly it was not to be and nine months later she took a turn for the worse and died, which was a great shock to us all.

“She was such a lovely, popular lady and had a heart of gold.

“She was really well-liked and is sadly missed by her family and all her friends.”

Mrs Dagnall and Hazel's sister Janet Hannatt organised a charity dance and prize draw at Woodbridge Football Club in memory of Hazel and raised £900.

“It was a great evening and the support we had was fantastic - we just want to thank everyone who came along or helped in any way,” she said.

“The hospital staff at Ipswich and Addenbrooke's were absolutely marvellous and we wanted to give the lung unit something back to be able to help other people and to do that in Hazel's memory. We may make it an annual event to remember her by.”

Are you organising a special event for charity? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk