THE friends and family of the teenager seriously injured in a collision with a car are raising money to buy him a new bike.

Joe ‘Duckie’ Duckworth, 14, was in a collision with a car on Rayne Road in Braintree whilst on his way to school at Tabor Academy on October 11.

He suffered two fractures to his skull and was flown by the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma in intensive care.

Thankfully Duckie is on the road to recovery and his friends and family have rallied around to raise money for a new bike and also collect funds for the charity that saved his life.

Jess Benson, 14, started the Just Giving page after hearing about Duckie’s accident.

She said: “Right now him and his family need all the support they can get, and that’s why I decided to help his mates out and raise money to get him something and replace the things he lost in the incident.

“I heard at school that his best mates were talking about getting him a new bike to replace the other one and a few other things that he lost in the accident, but they couldn’t get the money for what they wanted to get him.”

So far the campaign has raised £1,167, just over a week after being set up.

Any funds that are left over after a new bike is bought will be donated to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

Duckie’s friends are also planning to host a charity football match at Tabor Academy to raise money for the charity.

Jess said: “I really do appreciate the people who have donated to the just giving page and helping us to reach our target, everyone has been so generous and we really appreciate all donations.

“Duckie is very lucky to have people that are willing to support him and to have a family that is always by his side, because after all that’s what families and friends are for.”