A NEWLY set up Hampshire charity can now see its projects to help children with cancer kicked-off thanks to thousands of pounds raised.

The Southampton-based charity Abby’s Heroes will help children with cancer at the Southampton General Hospital with the money raised during its inaugural fundraising event last weekend. 

More than 200 people who attended the charity ball at the Ageas Bowl helped raise £7,300 through donations and raffle while having fun on the dance floor.

The money will help children treated with cancer at the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton General Hospital, where 11-year-old Abby Randall was treated before she died for a rare type of bone cancer last May. 

Her parents Sally and David set up the charity and organised their inaugural fundraising event with the help of some of their friends. 

Sally, 49, a part-time hairdresser from Southampton, said: “I wasn’t expecting so many people to help and turn up at the event. When I walked into the room and saw so many people there I realised how many tickets we sold and that is incredible.”

The money will be used to help children make memories with their families and support them in several aspects of their everyday life. 

Abby’s Heroes are now planning other fundraising events to be run throughout the year, including a sponsor cycling ride next summer and other event which will be run at the WestQuay after the shopping centre pointed the charity as one of those to support in 2017.