A Miss Norfolk 2017 contestant has described how planning a successful charity event has helped give her a focus whilst suffering with a brain tumour.

Eastern Daily Press: Elisha Hudson will competing in Miss Norfolk 2017 this weekend. Picture: mmm photographyElisha Hudson will competing in Miss Norfolk 2017 this weekend. Picture: mmm photography (Image: mmm photography)

Twenty-four-year-old Elisha Hudson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in March this year and has described the 'emotional' night which saw nearly a hundred friends and strangers turn out to support her.

The Northrepps resident has raised more than £3,500 thanks to generous donations from friends and family, as well as holiday makers at the Woodlands Caravan park in Trimmingham, where the event was held.

Miss Hudson said: 'It was amazing. I was just so overwhelmed by all the people that came and the people that didn't even know me but had come along to support.'

The event featured an auction, with gifts including wine and champagne, as well as a performance from local band the BlackJacks.

Eastern Daily Press: Elisha Hudson presenting one of the auction prizes.Elisha Hudson presenting one of the auction prizes. (Image: Archant)

Miss Hudson added: 'Special thanks also goes to Woodlands for putting on a bar and buffet for us all.'

But after her success on September 16, the Halsey Home care assistant must now look ahead to the Miss Norfolk finals on September 23.

She said: 'I'm really excited, I'm just getting ready and getting my outfits all together now.

'I'm most looking forward to the Miss Charity competition now, because I've worked so hard and I've seen it through and succeed, and it's going to such a fantastic cause.'

All the money will be donated to Brain Tumour Research, one of the first organisations which helped Miss Hudson when she first began to feel unwell earlier this year.

She continued: 'I have up days and down days with this, but having something positive to focus on has helped so much. I have another appointment in a month to see how much my tumour has grown, but I've got this to focus on for now.'

Miss Hudson said entering the competition had come a little out of the blue but she thought 'what have I got to lose?'

She continued: 'Then a few weeks later I got an email saying I was in the final. It gave me such a confidence boost, not only in myself but also in the fact that someone wanted to hear my story, I'm just a normal person at the end of the day.'

To support Elisha visit her fundraising page.