Larne classroom assistant’s pink party for Cancer Focus NI

The group, led by Larne and Inver PS classroom assistant Wendy Wallace, held a Pink Garden Party after their friend of 30 years successfully overcame her cancer battle.

Wendy told The Times: “We are a close group of friends who meet up and we have known this lady for around 30 years. It was a shock when she was diagnosed.

“We came together and decided to do a fundraiser, and we chose Cancer Focus’s ‘Think Pink’ campaign as it is focused on Northern Ireland. This was our first fundraiser and it proved to be a great success.”

The garden party, which was held in the grounds of Wendy’s Doagh home, attracted over 120 pink-clad guests.

Wendy continued: “It was a lovely day and people had a lot of fun-we were all in pink. There were prizes donated by local businesses and Cancer Focus.

“My sister-in-law is a cupcake expert and she made small cupcakes in individual boxes with butterfly icing for people to go home with.

“Cancer Focus supplied us with bunting, balloons, banners, badges and prizes for the draw.

I can’t believe that we made as much money as we did-we would have been happy with £800, but we’re absolutely delighted to make £1,742.

For one guest, the event was particularly poignant. Wendy revealed: “My friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer had her operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now in remission and she attended the event.

“She was overwhelemed and afterwards we got a lovely letter from her

A Cancer Focus spokesperson said: “This money will be used to support breast cancer patients and their families in Northern Ireland, as well as funding ground-breaking research at Queen’s University Belfast.

“Anyone who has concerns about cancer can speak to a specialist nurse on the Cancer Focus free Helpline, 0800 783 3339”