THE friends and family of a popular teenager who died from a brain tumour are joining forces to raise money in her memory.

Ellie Savage, who attended Kirkley High School, died aged 14 in November 2002.

Now her sisters Cassie, 23, and Natalie, 19, and six former schoolfriends are teaming up for '12 months of constant fund-raising' by organising an event every month to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.

Wearing t-shirts emblazoned with '2012...12 months...12 events,' Cassie, Natalie, and Ellie's friends Abi Harrod, Anna Banks, Gemma Roberts, Casey Wicks, Laura Smith and Robyn Harper are all involved in the fund-raising.

The money they collect will go to the Ellie Savage Memorial Trust, which was set up in February 2003 to help families living in East Anglia who have a child with cancer or a brain tumour by providing financial support.

Cassie, Ellie's twin, said the group had lots of fundraising ideas: 'We will be doing a charity event every month of the year. 2012 will be the 10th year since Ellie has passed and our aim is to raise lots of money for other children suffering with cancer in East Anglia,' she said.

Under the trust banner of 'Remembering Ellie... Helping Others', the fund-raising gets under way this Sunday with a quiz night at The Ship Inn, Pakefield. People are being invited to attend and enter a team.

Among the other events planned are a black tie event in November – to mark a decade since Ellie died – a live music evening at the Winelodge in Oulton Broad with local band Storyteller to mark Ellie's birthday in September, the Bungay Run in April and 'hopefully' the Lowestoft Christmas Day swim in December.

An event is also earmarked for March, which is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, and the group's other plans include a sky-dive, a sponsored car wash, a Zumba marathon, an auction, a non-uniform day, and a 1980s prom/disco.

Since it was set up, Ellie Savage Memorial Trust has raised thousands of pounds, funding research into brain tumours, helping families of children with cancer and giving a host of worthy causes across the region. Between 2003 and 2004, the trust saw an amazing �40,000 raised in the first year alone.

As the group of fund-raisers organise their events, they are also keen to raise awareness of the fact that no major developments have been made in the treatment of brain tumours in the 10 years since Ellie died. Cassie said the hope was that the year of fund-raising would bring in about �6,000, with raffles, bucket collections and bracelets to be sold. 'Everyone was talking about it last year when it was nine-years since Ellie had passed away,' she said. 'We got together and had a meeting at the beginning of January and it has gone from there.'

Natalie added: 'We're asking for help from local people and businesses and hoping organisations come forward to support us by offering venues to hold the events, and also as part of the fund-raising efforts.

'We have not forgotten Ellie after 10 years as we come together to celebrate her. We're funding desperately-needed research because in the past 10 years research into brain tumours has not really progressed.'

Sunday's quiz starts at 7pm. It costs �2 per person to enter, with a maximum of six people allowed in each team.

A Justgiving website is being set up so people can donate online but if you can help with events, visit the Ellie Savage Memorial Trust group on Facebook or log on to www.elliestrust.org/trust.asp