A FUND-RAISING campaign for the family of a Helensburgh teacher who lost her life in a car crash last week has raised more than £11,000.

Caroline Nelson died in the accident on the A818 at Daligan, just outside Helensburgh, on Monday, October 8.

Mum-of-two Caroline, 45, was travelling from her home in Arrochar to her work at Parklands School in Helensburgh on her first day back after cancer treatment.

Her loss was met with a huge outpouring of sympathy from the local community, keen to praise her for her selfless work at the special needs school.

Now the campaign, which was set up two days after the tragedy by Caroline’s close friend Kate McManus-Coyle, has comfortably passed its initial target of £1,000 to provide vital financial support to Caroline’s husband Alexander – known as Sandy – and the couple’s two sons.

As this article was published the appeal – which can be found at www.gofundme.com/caroline-nelson – had attracted donations totalling £11,194.

Kate said: “We are so blown away by the generosity. We are really grateful for the donations which will take the pressure off in the immediate future so Sandy can concentrate on looking after the boys without added financial worry.

“Unfortunately, at painful times like this, the bills keep coming in.

“The family are facing the funeral costs and were in the middle of moving houses which itself brings its own costs.”

Caroline had written in a jubilant Facebook post on September 21 about her final day of radiotherapy treatment.

Tributes flowed in for Caroline on the Advertiser’s Facebook page as friends shared their memories of the “lovely, giving, caring person”.

Katrina Watson said: “One very artistic lady who gave her pupils some fabulous lessons. She was my class teacher.

“Thoughts and prayers to everyone connected to her especially her boys.”

Debbie Gordon called Caroline “a truly fabulous teacher with such intuition and knowledge” and said: “She taught our non-verbal autistic son Roddy for over four years and became a friend to us all.

“I’ll never forget the giggles her and Roddy would have when he thought he could get up to mischief and hoodwink her but she had the measure of him and always knew what he was up to!

“I can’t imagine going back to school knowing she won’t be returning. We are truly heartbroken.”

Sammi Douglas said: “Caroline was an amazing teacher and friend and did so much at Parklands.

“My son Mathew loved her to bits and she did so much for him.

“She will be well and truly missed. Heartbroken. RIP Caroline.”

Caroline Boyde added: “Caroline was one in a million and my life was richer for having her in it. I’m going to miss Caroline so much.”

And Amanda Acikgoz said: “She was a truly inspirational brave woman who will be missed dearly.”