Touched by a kind of practical kindness and spurred on by deep friendship, two Norfolk women have harnessed their own special reasons to do something for two charities.

Becky Enefer, 35, and Sophie Hall, 36, have been motivated to raise at least £6,000 in aid of charities the Big C Norfolk and Waveney's cancer charity and My WiSH, the hospital charity supporting people and their loved ones.

And now they are hunting for those companies to help them make their ball go with a swing on July 7 at Hockwold Hall.

'In June last year, my great friend Anna Chapman was diagnosed with breast cancer. It had spread to the lymph, liver and lungs – and clinicians gave her 18 months to live,' said Ms Enefer, who lives in Feltwell.

'I felt utterly helpless. There was no amount of cuddles or flowers I could send. One of Anna's friends shaved her hair off to raise money for the Big C. And that's when I thought I could do something too.'

Mrs Chapman, who is married to Tim and mum of Barnaby, three, and Eleanor, five, has been fighting her illness and the cancer has shrunk.

'Anna and I love going to balls. It is one of our things,' said Ms Enefer.

Ms Hall is equally driven to support the West Suffolk Hospital charity which helped her while her mother was in hospital. Her mother, Jayne Kelly, died in September 2016 after a sudden collapse brought her under the care of the Bury St Edmunds hospital, where she spent her final weeks.

'I hardly left mum in those last few days of her life. On one of the first nights My WiSH gave me a little big filled with essentials, like tooth paste, a toothbrush and deodorant. It meant I didn't have to leave mum. The bag came with a note, saying that it was offering help during a difficult time. It was a practical bit of kindness that meant so much,' said Ms Hall, of Weeting.

'When Becky asked if I would help with the ball, I said yes without thinking. We started in October to do something to help others and we have been overwhelmed with the generosity from people so far. And we want to raise as much money as possible.'

For £100, a business can sponsor one of 17 tables. Only two sponsors are being sought to pay £355 each for the drinks reception. For £950, a company can secure overall sponsorship of the event.

All 200 tickets have been sold. So far sponsors include Hockwold Hall, Double Quick, Miganglia, Camvac, Center Parcs, Angela Sharpe Photography and Oemeta.

And auction lots range from a made-to-measure suit from Trotter and Deane in Bury St Edmunds, a fishing day and shoot from Jonathan Airey, a silver cuff from Ely artist Jonathan Deer and a piece of art, from Suffolk-born illustrator Claire Cockayne.

Contact Email hhcball@outlook.com or text Ms Hall on 07771 595478.