The family of a Norfolk woman who tragically drowned on a backpacking trip have announced a new charity fundraising goal to celebrate what would have been her 30th birthday.

The family of a Norfolk woman who tragically drowned on a backpacking trip have announced a new charity fundraising goal to celebrate what would have been her 30th birthday.

Mia-Lucy Rose was at the centre of an international rescue mission when she was swept away by a current on the River Mekong in the south-east Asian country of Laos in March 2004.

However, hopes that she might have safely got to shore down river in a jungle region known as 4,000 Islands were dashed when her body was found as her father Derek was crossing the border from Thailand to join in the search.

Inspired by the support of funeral goers, her family, from Buxton Avenue, Gorleston, set up a charity called the Mia-Lucy Rose Trust.

It has successively funded a trim trail on Gorleston Cliffs, aided International Rescue Corps, which supported the abortive rescue mission, and helped a number of local causes.

Now, to mark what would have been her 30th birthday on December 20, her family have launched an appeal to raise �30,000 to have a room at the planned palliative care centre at James Paget University Hospital named after her.

Fund-raisers are approaching the �1m mark on their way to the �1.5m building costs for the centre, which will help people suffering from terminal illnesses.

Mr Rose, a director of the Yarmouth-based E-Tech Group, said: “One of the reasons Mia was really interested in helping people was that her uncle, Mervyn McAneany, a well-known charity fundraiser, suffered from liver cancer.

“In the last months of his life, there were no palliative care facilities and they are sorely needed.”

He said that during the later stages of his illness, he had found a great deal of comfort in talking to Mia-Lucy.

The Roses and many of Mia-Lucy's friends will mark the date of her 30th birthday by letting off 30 fireworks at the family home.

To support the appeal, people are invited to buy a range of Christmas cards chosen by the trust. They can be ordered from the Mia-Lucy Rose Trust shop in Gorleston High Street, telephone (01493) 662250.