A PARTY for youngsters has raised almost £600 for charity.

The Holy Communion celebration for pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary School, in Stanley, raised cash for Willow Burn Hospice, near Lanchester.

The event at Tanfield WMC last month followed service for year three pupils at St Joseph’s Church and was attended by over 170 people.

Organiser Debbie Whitehead, whose eight-year-old daughter, Havannah, attends the school, said: “The day was fantastic. The girls looked lovely in their dresses and the boys were very smart in their suits. They went and got changed and we had a disco for the children and adults. There was a bouncy castle outside and we had all sort of games.”

Today, (Tuesday, July 8) the school handed over a cheque for £571 to the hospice after it was suggested by one of the parents, Laura Frazer, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Around 50 women connected to the school are taking part in the Race for Life at Newcastle Racecourse on July 20 to support her.

Ms Whitehead said: “This has brought people closer together and Willow Burn was appropriate because it offers counselling service for people with cancer as well as offering respite care.

“It is a local charity and we wanted the money we have raised to be used within the local community.”