A TEENAGER raised over £26,000 in just one night for a charity which supports teenagers with cancer.
Kelly Setter decided to hold a charity ball for the Teenage Cancer Trust despite never having organised an event in her life.
Her interest in the charity began when her friend took her to a Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall two years ago.
"I was introduced to the charity through music, but I became really interested in it, and I went back last year and had backstage passes," said Kelly, 17, of Wickham Bishops.
"I got to see all of the cancer patients, and I could relate to them, they were my age, and it really affected me.
"I don't know anyone going through that, but I can't imagine going through that."
After eight hard months of organisation, 150 people attended the event at Boreham House last month.
Now, after counting up all of the donations, Kelly was able to hand over a cheque to the charity for £26,248.
Tickets were sold for £65 and thousands of pounds were bid at the auction, which included prizes such as a trip for four to Hong Kong, which made £11,000.
Other prizes included a trip to PortAventura theme park, Paris for a week, a London musical and hotel stay, and a signed shirt from football legend Sir Trevor Brooking.
"I began by ringing up venues, I must have called about 10 or 15, and viewed them all but eventually I chose Boreham House," said Kelly.
"I just asked everyone I could find. My mum Lorna and dad Phil really helped pull in the crowds, and I could not have done it without them.
"I never expected to raise this much money, I only thought it might raise around £5,000.
"With the recession and also people struggling to pay for just their tickets, I couldn't believe that people were being so generous.
"People were just donating lots of money to the charity, someone just gave us £1,000 because they could not be at the event, so I decided to put that into another holiday.
"But we heard a speech from the Teenage Cancer Trust at the beginning, and I think that speech made a real impact.
"There were people at the ball who had never heard of it beforehand and now told me they've bought all their Christmas cards from them, so that was nice.
"It is all about spreading the word, it is not very well known in Essex."
Kelly, who went to New Hall School before taking up a photography course at South Essex College, is now considering a career change into events management.
She said: "When the course is over next summer I want to get some work experience in some events management places just to see what it's like."
For more information on the Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org.
