Melanie Smith, mother to Ben, six, Madeline, four, and Ella-Rose, two, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in January last year.

She is now in remission after eight months of chemotherapy, during which time she received support from the Lymphoma Association, based in Aylesbury.

She held a black tie event in November last year at the Buckingham Best Western Hotel and raised £4,000 for the charity through an auction and raffle.

Miss Smith, of Treefields in Buckingham, said: "When I was diagnosed, the Lymphoma Association was really helpful in getting me through it because I have three young children and needed as much support as I could get. When I was told I was in remission, I held a party to celebrate and decided to turn it into a fundraiser as well."

Local businesses, including Brook Hall Cookery School in Winslow, Buckingham Golf Club, Browns Hair Salon, Chair and the Villiers Hotel, donated prizes to the auction.

Miss Smith added: "I did not expect to raise that much money. My goal was £2,000 and I was really surprised it was double that amount."

Amanda Buchanan, from the Lymphoma Association, said: "It costs £1 million to run the Lymphoma Association each year so we are grateful to local fundraisers like Mel as we don't currently get any government or lottery funding and we are the only specialist UK charity that provides accurate medical information and support to lymphatic cancer patients and families. What a great job Mel has done to raise a huge amount of money whilst at the same time raising awareness in the local area."

For more information about the Lymphoma Assocation, visit www.lymphoma.org.uk