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Jessica's party helps smash charity target
A FUNDRAISING event in the name of a Marlow teenager battling a brain tumour was a roaring success last night.
There were 250 people at the Jessica Taylor Fund dinner and dance, held at Newlands Girls School in Maidenhead.
It has left the charity, which smashed its original £25,000 target, determined to raise more money.
Jessica, 14, was diagnosed with the tumour last August, and has been fighting the disease ever since.
She and her family set up the charity fund, to raise money for a multi-media ward at John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, where she has had treatment.
He mother, Karen Taylor, 33, was thrilled with last night's attendance.
She said: "It's just fabulous. Having all this support is incredible. We didn't think it was going to hit this sort of scale when we started."
Mrs Taylor's father, Derek Huddlestone explained that the guests were made up of family friends, local business colleagues and fellow golf club members, many providing raffle prizes.
He said: "We have put a lot of work into this - Karen's put in lots - but it's going really well."
Music came from 60s tribute band The Mersey Echoes and The Cox Green Jazz Group, from Cox Green School, while food was provided by Michelin Star chef Rob Clayton and his team.
The charity has raised more than £30,000 so far.
Mr Huddlestone said: "We only found out we'd done it this week. Everything goes toward kids with cancer treatment so they can communicate with the outside world."
The money will pay for equipment including computers with wall mounted flat screens that will let young people affected by cancer use messaging systems.
The extra money being raised now is going into a fund that may be used if Jessica needs to travel to America for a potentially life saving operation.
But her family have cause for optimism, as recent scans show that the tumour may have stopped growing.
If Jessica does not need the costly treatment, the funds will be donated to brainstrust, which suggested the idea of Jessica travelling to America for the surgery.
This organisation explores different treatment options for tumour sufferers across the world.
More fundraising events are planned throughout the year.
11:34am Sunday 11th May 2008
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