The family and friends of Lucie Proctor, who died this time last year, have raised around £30,000 in her memory.

Lucie Proctor, 26, from Reymerston, suffered a cardiac arrest during the Anglia Farmers party last December but frantic efforts to save her life sadly failed. Her death just five days later was described as "sudden adult death syndrome."

During her last days in intensive care, doctors attempted to cool down her body with bags of ice to aid the recovery process. A new £14,000 air flow blanket, bought in her memory using the raised funds and recently donated to the critical care unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, can be filled with cold air to the correct temperature – or alternatively warm air for patients who need to be warmed up after trauma or surgery.

“Research has shown that cooling down the body after a head injury or cardiac arrest can slow down the metabolism and help to reduce swelling in the brain – which can make a significant difference to the outcome for patients,” explained intensive care consultant Tim Leary.

“We are tremendously touched and grateful for this gift,” he added. “It’s a huge amount of money to raise in just a year.”

Lucie had been married for only 18 months to farmer Rob Proctor and worked for Visit Norwich before becoming membership services manager for Anglia Farmers.

Her mother, Annette Alston, whose husband Ian is a farmer in Colton, commented: “Lucie was full of energy and as fit as a fiddle so her death was entirely unexpected. We decided to do something to help the intensive care unit as we felt this was a way to make something positive out of a tragedy. We knew that Lucie would want us to take action to help others in a similar situation.”

A collection was taken at Lucie’s memorial service and generous donations have been given. Fundraising events have been organised, ranging from a sponsored “waxathon” to a Calendar Girls-style calendar starring Norfolk Young Farmers – Lucie was a past chairman of Dereham Young Farmers and her husband Rob was Norfolk YFC county chairman for 2007/8.

Other local events were organised by members of Norfolk Fund Raisers who are family friends of the Alstons, and donations were also made in memory of a close family friend and Anglia Farmers director, Phillip Gill, who died suddenly in January 2009.

Visit Norwich’s inaugural Sparkle Ball held on 15 December raised a further £1,300 for Lucie’s Lifesaving Project and more events are planned to raise funds for life saving training and equipment such as defibrillators for people who suffer sudden heart failure

“These little machines can mean the difference between life and death – in some States in America they are compulsory in venues where there is a large footfall,” said Annette. “Each defibrillator costs £1,000 and we are aim to encourage as many of the major venues in Norfolk as we can to make them available. We also want to sponsor CPR(cardio pulmonary resuscitation)and first aid training for Young Farmers and Countrysiders. We would like to take this chance to thank everyone who is supporting Lucie’s Project."

Donations can be made via Mrs Alston on 01603 880285 or annette@honingham.co.uk