Nearly £70,000 was raised at a ball at the Hillbark Hotel, Wirral, to help the expansion of The Paterson Research Institute in Manchester.

Ollie’s Ball was organised by Ollie Battye, a Wirral girl who was diagnosed at the age of 16 with Ewing’s Sarcoma bone cancer on the base of her spine. Courageously, she vowed to raise money for Cancer Research, particularly their ‘More Tomorrows’ campaign.

Ollie, currently in her fifth year of remission, flew over from America to give a speech at the ball. Ollie won a coveted tennis scholarship at Sam Houston University in Texas. The promising tennis player has helped raise substantial sums for cancer charities and was ranked one of the top 10 LTA under 14s players prior to her diagnosis.

High profile names attended the event, including Emma Samms of Dynasty fame and impersonator and comedian Jon Culshaw – who performed on the night. Organisers of the ball, Peter and Simone Schofield said: ‘The generosity of people was overwhelming. Ollie gave a speech that touched everyone’s heart. She is a truly inspirational young woman