FRIENDS of a brave 17-year-old who lost her two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer last month have organised a red-carpet ball in aid of her family.
As reported, when Shannon Davis, from Immingham, was diagnosed with tonsillitis in April 2010, a blood test revealed that she was suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia.
She beat the disease once thanks to a groundbreaking new drug called 'cloud' in July last year, however, the cancer returned this summer and doctors told the 17-year-old that it was terminal.
Shannon spent the last few months making the most of the time she had left and even celebrated her 18th birthday early with family and friends before she passed away on Wednesday, November 14, as reported.
However, her sister and friends are now holding a special red-carpet event to raise money for Shannon's family – on the day that she would have been 18 years old.
Sister Emma Norris, 29, said: "It was planned for when she was still alive but when she passed away, we thought it was still a good idea to raise some money and for all the people who loved her to remember her."
The money will go to Shannon's family, who will later decide where the money will go.
One of the causes that the family is supporting is Issabelle's Appeal, which people gave donations to at Shannon's funeral.
Issabelle is a seven-year-old girl that Shannon met in Sheffield Children's Hospital who needs treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer, which is likely to cost £250,000 to save her life. Emma is organising the event with her four friends Jennifer Foreman, Louise Hickson, Leanne Jolly and Viki Steward, who have known Shannon and the family for more than a decade. Jennifer, 29, of Wyber's Wood, said: "We all know the family and knew what they were going through but there is nothing you can say to make it any better, so we decided that this was something we could do.
Louise, 30, of Lydia Court, Immingham, said: "People have been really supportive of the event because many of them knew Shannon or the family and even if they didn't they sympathise with the situation – it's everyone's worst nightmare."
The red-carpet ball is a black tie and cocktail dress occasion at the Immingham Civic Centre in Pelham Road at 7.30pm on Friday, December 7. There will be live music from band the Finks, who play classic rock covers, and DJ Big Guy will be running the disco and karaoke, and a buffet by the Gallery Cafe, supplied by Anglia Woods.
Tickets are £5 and can be bought at the Bluestone Inn, Jane's Gems Florist, or by calling Emma Norris on 07769 267322, and you can find further details on facebook by searching 'charity ball for shannon'.
For more details, visit: https://www.facebook.com/CharityBallForShannonDavis
