A FAMILY have raised nearly £27,000 for charity, inspired by their 17-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with cancer last year.

Malton School pupil Maisie Bulmer, who celebrated her 17th birthday on Monday, found a walnut-sized lump in her neck last March, and after a biopsy at York Hospital was told she was suffering from B-Cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Maisie, who lives on the family’s farm at Salton, finished chemotherapy in October, but was told on Christmas Eve the cancer had returned.

Her mum, Wendy, said that discovering the news at Christmas was devastating, but that it had inspired them all, Maisie included, to raise money for various cancer charities.

Wendy said: “Poor Maisie, after all she’d been through, she had the wrong node taken out of her neck so we had a delay getting the news.

“Of course, when the right results did come through we were all so upset as we thought she’d beaten it – it turned Christmas upside down.”

The fundraising appeal started last June. Maisie’s sister Rosie, 22, and two friends, Georgina Baker and Louise Knight organised Maisie’s Ball, which saw 560 people turn out at York Racecourse to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Candlelighters and Click Sargent for Children with Cancer.

The family also wanted to raise awareness about blood donation as Maisie’s treatment has involved blood platelet transfusions.

Kirkbymoorside Young Farmers’ Club, of which Maisie, Rosie and her two brothers, George, 20, and Henry, 18, are all members of, donated £4,000 at the event.

Philip Place, from Malton Livestock Auctioneers, sold off lots, including a week at a ski resort.

Maise, who wants to be a PE teacher, started a new round of treatment at Leeds General Infirmary in January.

She said: “It is only from experiencing cancer that I understand what these charities do. I want to thank all the people who have helped us with prizes and buying tickets for the ball. I’m also extremely lucky to have such such a supportive family and friends.”

Donations are still coming in for Maisie’s Ball fund. You can make a donation by phoning Rosie Bulmer on 07968 109007 or by emailing rosieb1@live.co.uk