Support for the first in a series of fundraising events in Helston for Cancer Research UK has left its organisers “overwhelmed.”

Friends Kayleigh Chapman, Lara Cameron and Louise Langley organised a day themed around love to kick-start their fundraising for the charity that holds a special place in their hearts.

The Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice Valentine’s Fundraiser took place in the Epworth Hall on Saturday.

Visitors could name the Valentine’s teddy bear for the chance to take it home, look over the while elephant stall and try their hand at the raffle, for which prizes were donated by businesses in the area.

For younger visitors there was a children’s disco and activities courtesy of Carleen Entertainment.

One of the organisers, Kayleigh Chapman, said: “A big, big thank you to everyone who came along, to Carleen Entertainment, everyone who donated and to all our volunteers – the day was a great success.”

She added that the trio were “overwhelmed” by the support they received.

The day has so far raised more than £500 and this total could go up as any items left over on the stall are being sold online to boost proceeds further.

The total, which was described by Kayleigh as “fantastic,” exceeded the £300 target the organisers had initially set themselves.

Family members affected by cancer were the inspiration behind the event. Kayleigh lost her grandfather Danny Greet to prostate cancer in November last year, while Lara’s dad Steven Teasdale is currently fighting the disease.

She is hoping that the money raised can go towards research that might one day find a cure for myeloma, a type of cancer arising from plasma cells found in the bone marrow.

Finally, Louise has been motivated to fundraise in memory of her late uncle John Stewart, who she lost to prostate cancer, as well as in support of an extended family member, her uncle Billy Heyes, who is battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

More fundraising events are now planned to take place throughout the rest of this year, with the aim of raising at least £1,000 for Cancer Research UK by the end of it.