THE star of the show at a fundraising hog roast and dance flew 10,000 miles to surprise family and friends at the event.

Nicky Race, 32, who is battling a rare form of cancer, has been living in Western Australia for the last eight years, but is moving back to North Yorkshire to be closer to her family.

She surprised her parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law and nieces by turning up at their home in Welbury, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, just hours before C It Off, and made her entrance during the fundraising auction carrying lot number ten – a jewellery holder she had made.

Her family thought she would not be able to make it home in time for the event due to her treatment, but her doctors let her finish chemotherapy early.

C It Off was held in a marquee at the Race family home on Saturday (July 4) and raised thousands of pounds for Herriot Hospice Homecare and Macmillan Cancer Support.

It included live and silent auctions, a raffle, bottle tree, hog roast and live band.

Tickets sold out in weeks, with donations of help and prizes coming from villagers, relatives, friends and business associates of the Race family, who run a building firm.

Speaking after the auction Nicky, a cabinet-maker by trade, told the 600 guests: "I've had to jump on a rollercoaster in the last few years and ride out whatever twists and turns it takes.

"I've taken this cancer as a positive and I feel lucky to have had this wake-up call.

"It's changing me as a person and my outlook on life. I want to share everything I can to prevent anyone else from being in this situation.

“I’m very determined I will beat this.”

The Races started fundraising after three family members, including Nicky, were diagnosed with cancer. The first C It Off event two years ago raised £18,000.

Nicky's mum, Tina Race said: "The scale of this do is way out of our comfort zone but we've remained focused on the whole purpose of the evening - to raise money for two amazing charities who frequently work together providing crucial support to the community.

"Everyone has been so generous and the atmosphere was amazing – especially when Nicky walked in."