FRIENDS and family of a West Devon cancer sufferer granted her request and held a party to raise funds for the Mustard Tree Centre which has been supporting her. Denise Knight, 54, of Lifton ? described as ?very upbeat and fun loving? ? thought she was suffering from migraine attacks. But in May she was diagnosed as having eight tumours on the brain. The consultant said the only thing they could do was to buy her time. Denise said she was hoping she would wake up and find it was all a bad dream. The Mustard Tree Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Derriford Hospital has been offering support, which she said she has found really helpful, and her friends decided to hold fundraising events in aid of the centre. One event was a reunion with all the people Denise had worked with at HSBC, which raised almost £600. The most recent, organised by friend and next-door-neighbour Georgina Elias, was a party in Lifton for friends and family, which more than 200 people attended. Georgina said she had asked Denise what she really wanted, a dinner with just the neighbours from the row of five houses or a big party. Denise wanted the party, so Georgina set about organising it with three weeks? notice. The party was held in the gardens behind the row of houses, with three borrowed marquees and gazebos. Fences were taken down to make it possible, and Georgina?s sister Sarah organised the food. Georgina?s sisters-in-law Debbie and Sam and brother Jonathan and brother-in-law Roger also helped out, along with Denise?s sisters Ann and Helen in the morning. Georgina said everyone had rallied round. The Ordulph Arms in Tavistock loaned the chilling system for lager and bitter free of charge, and music was organised by a band member. The 30 bales of straw used for people to sit on were sold at the end to raise more money. The food included 16 chickens, 12lb of ham, a lamb roast plus ten cheesecakes and quiches. Georgina said: ?Everyone had a wonderful time. It was very magical.? She received a thank you letter from Denise?s sister Helen saying they would all remember it for the rest of their lives. Denise had stayed at the party for the whole day. The event raised almost £600, including £50 from a ?name the teddy? competition, the teddy being donated by the Mustard Tree Centre. A donation from the sum raised will also be given to the Children?s Hospice South West.
