A Hitchin schoolgirl who took part in a one-day sponsored silence in order to raise money in memory of a family friend who died from a rare form of cancer is now the face of a social media charity campaign.

Alice Bridge’s mum Katherine was a friend of inspirational Hitchin mum of three Anne Aurousseau, who died last October after battling against adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Alice, 10, helped raise money for Anne’s chosen charity Get-A-Head – which funds new research into head and neck diseases, helps buy equipment to help patients and supports education and medical professionals.

Her one-day sponsored silence inspired the charity to launch a social media campaign which encouraged people not to post on social media for 24 hours last week. The aim was to raise awareness of the issues faced by those affected by head and neck diseases, some of whom may face difficulties in speaking or be at risk of having their voicebox removed.

Alice, a pupil at Samuel Lucas JMI School in Gaping Lane, raised more than £300 with her silence.

Her mum said: “I’m so proud of her. Her sponsored silence was all her own work. It’s nice to see Get-A-Head use her idea for their ‘social silence’ campaign – Alice was pleased about it. Anne was a lovely person who made such an impression on everyone she met.”

Get-A-Head charity manager Louise Newton said: “We see patients that lose their voice – just one of many devastating effects of head and neck cancer, meaning their main means of communication is lost.

“People who contributed to the one-day social media silence gained an insight into what losing ability to communicate can mean.”

You can still donate online at www.getahead.org.uk.”

Brave mum Anne, died with her family around her at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on October 5, 2014, after a four-year battle against cancer – hours after hundreds of people from the Hitchin community, and beyond, attended a family day for her at Blueharts Hockey Club in Lucas Lane, raising thousands of pounds.

Anne’s husband Jamie Street said: “Anne was a wonderful person. Thanks you to all who have helped us including Alice and Katherine.”