More than £10,000 was raised at the first ball held by a charity which provides comfort boxes to women having treatment for breast cancer.
The Littlelifts May Ball was held last Friday when more than 200 guests donned their finery for the celebration at Dunston Hall.
The charity was set up by Oa Hackett, from Bawburgh, after she was told she had primary breast cancer in July 2014 - and as part of her therapy had six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).
But the trauma of the treatments was softened, she said, by the support she had from friends and family who would often send her care packages and gifts.
Now her charity gives a pick-me-up box to every woman diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment at the NNUH.
And the impact it makes was made clear in a letter read out at the ball.
A woman identified only as Jill wrote to Oa after she received one of the boxes.
She had been at the NNUH after having breast surgery and had been told about her chemotherapy and treatment plan.
She said: 'I listened to a very long list of truly horrible side effects. I am trying to remain in positive mode, trying to get my head around the getting sick to get better theory, but on [that] Friday, to be honest that was a bit of a stretch.
'As I left I was presented with a box in bag. I carried it around the chemo unit and it was left unopened until I returned home. I opened this beautifully presented box, and please do not underestimate how it lifted my spirits. In this box were gifts which make me feel as if these unknown,s cary side effects can be managed, or at least tolerated.
The thought, the care and consideration that had been taken in producing this box just astounded me. It was a random act of kindness which helped me so much.'
Although the total raised was not yet known, Oa said it looked in the region of £10,500 thanks to ticket sales, an auction, and a raffle.
Oa said: 'Our first ever May ball would not have been possible without the generous support from Sinclair and every business and individual who supported the event, helping us to raise over £10k. It was lovely to see all 202 guests enjoying what was a brilliant evening. This money will be used to support women who face chemotherapy treatment for primary breast cancer in Norfolk by giving them a Littlelifts comfort box. To have such local support has been incredible.
'We have been overwhelmed with the feedback we have received from women who have received a comfort box. Knowing that we have been able to support these women at such a difficult time demonstrates why Littlelifts is so important.'
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