Charlotte's charity ball raises £5.3k to fight liver disease (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Charlotte's charity ball raises £5.3k to fight liver disease

7:40am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By William Tomaney

AN INSPIRATIONAL Stourport woman who survived life-threatening liver disease has raised more than £5,000 for a charity fighting the illness.

Charlotte Worton, 22, combined her love of parties with her organisational skills to host a charity ball at the Mercure Kidderminster Hotel, Bewdley, last Saturday and collected £5,300 for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

Miss Worton was given a life-saving liver transplant eight years ago and said she wanted to do something special to support other young people with the disease.

“I was determined to give something back but it never seemed to be the right time,” said the trainee nurse. “There was lots of school work to catch up on, then came exams, then university, then I got engaged.

“I had a really great time on Saturday - I feel like I could do it all again and I am so pleased to have raised so much for a charity that means so much to me.

“I could not have done it without the support of the local community though - it has been a real team effort.”

All 260 tickets had sold out before the event and a number of Wyre Forest businesses supplied raffle prizes helping Miss Worton raise funds.

Catherine Arkley, CLDF chief executive, said: “We take action against childhood liver disease by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this, however, we rely on community fundraising for the majority of our income.

“It is wonderful that Charlotte’s first foray into fundraising has raised such a fantastic amount and the way she has got the local community behind her is really impressive.

“We congratulate her on all her hard work and are very grateful for the funds she has raised.”

There is still time to support Miss Worton’s fundraising by visiting justgiving.com/Charlotte-Worton