THE owner of Lakeside Country Club has stepped in with a £2,500 donation to help Farnham woman Cathy French (23) with her battle against a rare form of cancer.

Bob Potter, who set up the Shirley Sharman trust after his partner died from breast cancer, made the donation after reading about Cathy's plight in The Herald.

Paul Smith, who handles media relations for Mr Potter, said: "The trust was founded in her memory to help cancer sufferers and people affected by cancer who live locally.

"As a result, hundreds of thousands of pounds has been donated to cancer research and treatment, including a £140,000 cancer scanner which was donated to Frimley Park hospital last year.

"After reading of the plight of Cathy in the Farnham Herald, Mr Potter decided he wanted to do something to help the fund."

Cathy and her mother Anne, who has devoted her life to caring for her daughter over the past seven years, were both overwhelmed after hearing about the donation.

Anne, who at times has faced financial ruin but has worked seven days a week to stay afloat, said: "It's totally amazing. I'm speechless.

"At the Middlesex Hospital there's a garden with a bench where Cathy and I sit sometimes.

"I once said to her 'if this was a magic bench and it could take you anywhere you wanted, where would you go?'

"Before Cathy became ill we went on a holiday to Corfu and Cathy said she would like to go back. It's possible that we can do this now.

"This is fantastic news - I just don't know what else to say."

Since The Herald first ran the story about Cathy, from Ryle Road, and her battle with ulcerative colitis and now Ewing's Sarcoma, donations and offers of help have flooded in.

Both individuals and organisations felt moved by Cathy's story and contributions have continued to come in this week.

Anne said that one of Cathy's friends, Andy Stoddard, is helping to organise a sponsored cycle ride at Safeway in Farnham.

The idea is to have an exercise bike in the store which staff will take turns on to raise cash for Cathy.

Last Thursday, the Farnham Youth Project held a dance event at Farnham Maltings which raised another £500 towards the total.

The event, which was organised by Tessa Magwick, was run by the young people from the project and saw local DJs Mark Williams and Steve

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Martin, together with two guest DJs from Fabric in London, play to an enthusiastic crowd.

Tessa said that the event was enjoyed by everyone and saw people coming from as far afield as Christchurch to enjoy the music. She gave special thanks to Lydia Wilson and Tanya Harris for their help on the evening.

And generous donations have been made after Micky Kemp and Colin Webb organised the Farnham free music festival.

Many local bands, including Colin's The Gerbs and Micky's The Micky Kemp Band, gave their time and played in several pubs at the end of July.

The event culminated in eight bands, from Farnham, Fleet, Bracknell and Weybridge, entertaining a crowd at The Exchange in Aldershot to raise even more money.

Cathy was presented with the cheque at The Lamb pub in Farnham during a brief spell at home last week before she returns to hospital for her second round of chemotherapy.

*On Sunday (August 19) Farnham Park Golf Club is holding a charity event between 2-5pm which is expected to drawn in the crowds.

The event has attracted widespread interest and all the holes are now sponsored for the afternoon. Organiser Gail Whattingham is now taking sponsors for the greens as well.

Gail said: "There are now 40 fantastic raffle prizes and a great day is in store. There will be many stalls together with golf orientated games, including pitching, putting and chipping. Everyone is welcome to come along."