A fundraising event held in memory of a Helston mother raised more than doube the amount of money it did last year.

Last September, during a brief period of remission from cancer, Sarah Dobson and two of her friends organised a successful charity night that raised £1,500 for three cancer charities.

Following her death in July, after almost two years fighting bowel cancer, Sarah’s family and friends were determined to carry on the fundraising.

They organised a charity night at Camborne Rugby Club, with the proceeds all going to Cornwall Hospice Care as Sarah spent her final weeks in St Julia’s Hospice at Hayle, which is almost entirely charity funded.

The result is that a cheque for £3,300 was due to be presented to Sarah Newton from Cornwall Hospice Care from Sarah’s husband Simon and friends Hannah Phillips, of Crowan School – where Sarah used to work – and Nick Annear, drummer for Straw Dogs Party, the band that performed at the charity evening.

Also helping raise money on the night were the Proper Job Singers and the Kernow King. A charity auction and raffle were also held.

Hundreds of pasties supplied free by Cornish Oven Bakery were sold to boost the total and the rugby club’s function room was made available free of charge.

Simon said: “There were, of course, a few poignant moments but it was a really superb night and everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. We raised such a lot of money for such a worthy cause. Huge thanks must go to everyone who supported the event.”

Sarah grew up in Porthleven and lived in Helston for many years before moving nearer to Hayle. She worked at Wearne’s jewellers, in Helston,between 1983 and 1992 and more recently was a much-loved teaching assistant at Crowan School in Praze-an-Beeble.