Cancer charity will benefit from lavish ball   

A charity ball at Down Hall Country House Hotel is set to help a cancer survivor and her friend give something back after she beat the disease.

The hotel’s Senior Conference and Events Co-ordinator Laura Moorcroft and close friend Carrie Baynes are hosting a ball in March at the Hatfield Heath venue in aid of the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

Laura was just 26 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January 2006. Following radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she was placed in remission in the August – but in a cruel twist of fate, Carrie’s husband Neil was told he had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma just a few months later.

“It felt like cancer was following us around,” said Laura, now 31, who lives in Sawbridgeworth. “Carrie and Neil had supported me throughout my illness then it was time for me to be there for them - it was a horrible period in our lives.”

Carrie, also from Sawbridgeworth, added: "I couldn't fight the cancer for Neil or Laura – all I could do was trust the doctors and remain positive for them. Both times, the only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to give something back when they were better. I wanted other people to benefit from the support and treatment that Neil and Laura were lucky enough to receive."

With Neil now also in remisson, Laura and legal PA Carrie decided they would host a Great British Ball at Down Hall to raise money for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity, which has a support centre at the Rivers Hospital in Sawbridgeworth along with two in Chelmsford.  “We were keen to support a charity which helps people local to our area, so Helen Rollason was perfect,” said Carrie.

The Great British Ball, to take place on March 4, will feature music from tribute act The Fab Beatles along with a drinks reception, four-course meal, auction and raffle. Auction prizes already secured include tickets to Glorious Goodwood, golf at Stoke Park and Arsenal FC tickets.

Tickets, which cost £75 each or £700 for a table of ten, are due to go on sale on November 5 via www.greatbritishball.co.uk or carrie@greatbritishball.co.uk