A Sandy woman who tragically lost her mum to ovarian cancer 10 years ago is holding a tea party to honour her memory and raise funds for charity.

Anne Elliott-Flockhart’s beloved mother Claire Overy was diagnosed with the disease in 2003. She underwent several courses of chemotherapy during her battle, but sadly lost her fight in 2007 at the tender age of 52.

Anne, 41, decided to hold a tea party in her honour the following year for close family and friends, and has seen the event grow year on year – first hiring Sandy Village Hall before eventually outgrowing its capacity of around 100 to move into Sandy Upper School.

Anne told the Comet: “It’s been 10 years since I lost my mum but I still think about her every day.

“She was quite a shy, quiet person until she got to know you, and then she would open up.

“She didn’t think she made that much a difference to people – but she was a swimming teacher and at her funeral it was standing room only.

“The event has just grown and grown, and last year we had 136 people attend.

“I had people come up to me who I didn’t know, who told me they had lost loved ones to ovarian cancer – and they attended to show support and help raise funds.”

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK and very little has changed in terms of ovarian cancer survival rates while so much progress has been made for other health conditions.

Deaths from ovarian cancer have decreased by fewer than two per cent since 1970 – whereas, over the same period, deaths from lung cancer and heart diseases have halved. Deaths related to breast cancer have fell by 40 per cent.

More than 7,300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the UK, and sadly 11 women die every day.

Anne discovered a charity called The Eve Appeal, which is determined to change the statistics and believes risk prediction and early detection have the biggest impact in saving women’s lives.

All funds raised on the day, held between 10am and 12 noon next Saturday, March 11, will go towards trying to prevent ovarian deaths.

The Eve Trust has its own registered nurse, and Anne encourages women to contact the charity’s expert to learn more about the symptoms.

Anne added: “As much as it was very distressing at the time I try not to think of losing her in a sad way – I try to be positive and think mum will be looking down on us enjoying her tea party more than anyone.”

All are invited to join Anne for her tea party. To contact her email Anne at anne1976@me.com or for more on the charity see eveappeal.org.uk