SCORES of people are rallying round to raise £100,000 to help a Hawkwell mum after she fell desperately ill and had her legs and fingers amputated.

Southend United is the latest organisation to come forward and raise money for 34-year-old Tracy Ralph, who was rushed into hospital on Christmas Eve with pneumonia.

She was then placed in an induced coma and found to have a combination of meningitis, septicaemia, blood clots, bleeding on the brain and complete organ failure.

Tracy, mum to young sons Hudson and Miller, also had to have both legs amputated below the knees and also had her fingers removed.

Nearly £60,000 has already been raised to pay for rehab and her prosthetic legs, a total which is likely to get a big boost after Blues manager Phil Brown and his players signed up to the cause.

They have yet to say exactly what they will do, but it could include the whole team getting their legs waxed in public on the pitch at Roots Hall.

Club chief executive Steve Kavanagh said: “We were putting together the fundraising effort in conjunction with the Shrimpers Trust. It’s just a bit of fun.

“We heardwhat had happened and we all came together and decided to do it for Tracy Ralph.”

Shrimpers Trust chairman Paul Fitzgerald said: “The majority of the money will be going to Tracy.

“It’s terrible for her and the family.

There’s no other way to describe it. It’s so unfortunate and it makes you realise how lucky you are.”

Tracy used to run with the Essex Ladies club and fellow runners are also lending their support.

Tracy had been planning to run the Brentwood Half Marathon this year, and another runner has stepped up to take her place and raise money for the appeal.

Victoria Prior, the club’s run leader, said: “As a club, we will be offering our support in whatever way we can.

“The ladies are very moved by what’s happened to Tracy and they just want to help and support her and her family.

“The outpouring of support has been so moving. It’s mind-blowing.”

Other events raising money for Tracy will include a boxing match and dinner at the Boatyard restaurant, in Old Leigh, on February 20, and a charity night at the Tandoori Parlour, Thundersley, on March 1.

Free flights, horseracing tickets and villas have also all been offered by well-wishers to help the family raise money.

THE Echo is backing Tracy Ralph and her family in their bid to raise £100,000.

In just 24 hours, kindhearted people donated £17,000 and four days after we first featured the family’s appeal, readers have continued to dig deep to to push the total past the halfway mark. The Ralph family set up the Facebook page and a donation web page to raise awareness of Tracy’s condition and appeal for money for her rehabilitation and buy prosthetic legs.

To donate visit youcaring.com and search for “Tracy Ralph” or www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-tracy-get-back-on-her-feet/293454.