A charity day in support of a young Sidmouth mum battling breast cancer has raised more than £5,000 for a cancer charity.

Sidmouth Herald: Stacey Thomson (centre) at the fundraising event on Saturday.Stacey Thomson (centre) at the fundraising event on Saturday. (Image: Archant)

Tom Seward and his girlfriend Laura Barber organised a lunch, raffle and auction at the Rugby Club after their friend Stacey Thomson was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Laura said: “It was so good, I kind of expected that people would come together to support the cause.

“Stacey is so well-known and so well-liked and it’s helping a local charity; you can see where the money is going when you can see someone who is using it.”

The event follows Stacey’s head shave where she raised £5,400 for Force Cancer charity.

The 26-year-old, who lives with partner Martyn Carnall, found a lump and was diagnosed shortly before her daughter’s first birthday after the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

Following the weekend’s event, friends and family have raised £10,500 for Force.

Stacey, who is mum to Ella-Rose, said: “I have been gobsmacked. I wanted to raise £150 and to times that by more than 10 is just ridiculous. “Everybody has been so wonderful, even people I do not really know but they know my family; I walk down the street and ask me how I am doing.

“That’s the beauty of Sidmouth, everybody comes together and would come together for anyone in my position. It’s a small town where everyone knows everyone.”

The mum-of-one is about to finish chemotherapy and will have an operation in March before starting radiotherapy.

She said she was looking forward to a trip to Alton Towers’ CBBC World, which has been funded by the Willow Foundation. The charity funds ‘special days’ for people who are seriously ill.

Naomi Cole, community fundraiser from Force, said: “We were blown away by the phenomenal amount of money raised following Stacey’s head shave and are incredibly grateful to all of her family and friends who donated so generously both then, and at the fundraiser last weekend.

“FORCE relies entirely on voluntary contributions in order to be able to continue to provide our services, so we are hugely-appreciative of such fantastic support from the local community.

“Many thanks again to Stacey and everyone involved again – the money raised really will make a huge difference.”