FRIENDS and colleagues of an inspirational mum joined forces to help her realise her dream of walking again.

Tracy Ralph, 34, had her fingers and both of her legs amputated after being taken ill with pneumonia over Christmas and contracting meningitis.

Four months on, the mum-of two is learning to walk again with the help of prosthetic limbs and intensive physiotherapy at a specialist unit in Roehampton.

A fundraising campaign set up in her honour has topped the £200,000 mark, but her loyal supporters are determined to keep going.

Friend and former colleague Lindsey Richardson, 40, teamed up with Rob Hewett, sales and events manager at the Grosvenor Casino, in Church Road, Southend, to put on a funfilled afternoon of food, champagne and gambling.

There was a two-course lunch and vouchers for table games and slot machines for the 50 guests – all offered free by the casino.

It meant ticket sales alone raised £1,000, with a silent auction boosting the fund further.

Mrs Richardson, from Southend, worked with Tracy at the Clarins make-up counter in Debenhams, in the Royals Shopping Centre, before leaving to set up her own beauty therapy business.

She said: “I worked with Tracy for years. She’s such a lovely lady and a real little angel.

“People have been really touched by what has happened to her. I think that is partly because she has two little children.

She also went into hospital at Christmas and that’s a time when everyone is thinking about family.

“We’re not doing anything for Tracy she wouldn’t do for us.

“She’s come on so much. We just want to do our bit to make her journey to recovery that little bit easier.

“Her family weren’t able to come along to the fundraising event because they have so much to do themselves, but they’re really pleased.”

Mr Hewett added: “My wife worked with Tracy at Debenhams. I remember her coming home at Christmas and telling me she was ill, but we never imagined it would result in her having her legs amputated.

“Everyone seems to have some sort of link to Tracy and everyone wants to do something to help. It’s a fantastic cause.”

Plans are currently being made for Tracy to return home to husband Brad, 37, and their two sons, four year-old Miller and 19-month-old Hudson.

Money raised by wellwishers has so far gone towards adapting the family home and paying for prosthetic legs.