The parents of a gifted student who died the day before her 22nd birthday are continuing to raise funds in her memory – and their latest venture is an online charity auction of rugby memorabilia.

Katie Wilkinson was a massive rugby league fan and her parents, Liz and Allan Wilkinson, of Cullingworth, are urging people to support their eBay auction.

The auction runs until tomorrow.

Mrs Wilkinson, 61, said: “Katie was an avid Leeds Rhinos fan, so we decided to try and raise funds for Katie’s Forget Me Not Fund for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. I have written to all the Super League clubs to see if they would donate a signed shirt for a charity eBay auction.

“They say rugby league is a family game and we have had quite a positive response and have met some very supportive people.”

Items in the sale include signed 2012 shirts from Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls.

An Exiles shirt signed by this year’s team, as well as a 2012 Challenge Cup programme, signed by the Warrington Wolves, a World Club challenge ball signed by the starting Leeds Rhino team and a Leeds Rhino ball signed by the 2010 team are also up for auction.

Katie was in her final year of a degree course at the University Of East Anglia when she died. She had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2005, and had received chemotherapy and achieved remission.

Tragically, while her immune system was weakened, she developed a rare infection which doctors were unable to treat.

Since her death in 2006 her parents have raised thousands of pounds in Katie’s memory.

To bid for the items, go to myworld.ebay.co.uk/lizallan10.