MORE than £7,700 has been raised at a charity ball in memory of two people cared for by a local hospice.

Friends, Kelly Durrant-King, 39, from Canvey, and Hannah Prince de Sousa, 29, from Ashingdon, held the spring charity ball at Stock Brook Manor, in Billericay, in aid of Havens Hospices.

The ball was attended by more than 240 people and had been organised in memory of Kelly’s mum, Sharron King, and Hannah’s dad, Harry Prince, who died from cancer in January 2013, at Fair Havens Hospice, inWestcliff, aged 69.

Before Kelly’s mum Sharron died from a brain tumour in May 2012, aged 65. She was cared for by the charity’s community service Fair Havens Hospice at Home, which allows people the choice to receive specialist hospice care in their own homes.

Kelly said: “Mum was able to go home for her last few days and the Hospice at Home team helped in so many ways, including administering her medicine.

“The nurses would also stay up through the night so we could get some much-needed rest knowing that they would wake us up if necessary.”

Kelly added: “For the hospice to provide this support at no cost to us was invaluable to us as a family. We both wanted to organise this ball as a way of saying thank you.”

Kelly and Hannah gave speeches in memory of their parents at the ball, and a luxury raffle, supported by local businesses, raised more than £2,000. It is hoped the raffle, together with ticket sales, games, the sale of photographs and donations will bring the total raised to £8,000.

Peter Hall, community fundraiser for Havens Hospices, said: “Hannah and Kelly should be so proud of what they have achieved.

“The event was a very special way for the girls and their family and friends to remember Harry and Sharron and at the same time has helped to raise an amazing amount for their local hospices.”