IPSWICH: Tenants of retirement home handed over hundreds of pounds to a charity in memory of a little girl who died from meningitis.

Rhianna Warner, pictured, was just two years old when she died from meningoccal septicaemia at Ipswich Hospital on New Year’s Eve in 2009.

Today, residents and staff at Anchor’s Carlford Court in Parliament Road told of their delight, having raised more than �450 for the Meningitis Trust.

The money was raised through donations which would usually be spent on buying Christmas presents for staff, from a cream tea event and a raffle.

They wanted to raise funds for the trust as the partner of Carlford Court manager, Alison Carter, was related to Rhianna.

Alison said: “Rhianna’s death had a massive impact on the family as a whole because we are very close.

“My colleague, Maureen Gladwell, and I usually ask tenants to donate to a charity rather than giving us gifts at Christmas and the tenants chose the Meningitis Trust in memory of Rhianna.”

Audrey Lowe, who has lived at the residence since 1993, said that all tenants had been moved by Rhianna’s death.

She said: “I was very moved when I was told about Rhianna and think that the Meningitis Trust is a very worthwhile charity and to raise money for them in the memory of Rhianna is something we all were more than happy to support.

“Hopefully this will raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and the money we raised will help the trust continue to do more of their excellent work.”

For more information on Carlford Court, contact 0845 140 2020.

For details on the Meningitis Trust contact Amy Greengrass on 0845 120 4882 or e-mail amyg@ meningitis-trust.org