Dr Rebecca Marchmont is turning her 30th birthday celebrations into a fundraising event for St Ann’s Hospice where her late uncle was a patient and where she trained.

Rebecca and her family want to help others to receive the same care as John Roberts, who died in January last year aged 54.

A few weeks later Rebecca went to St Ann’s in Heald Green, Stockport, as part of her GP training, gaining a professional insight into the hospice’s work and how it relies on fundraising to stay open.

Her experiences have inspired her to hold a black tie ball at Cottons Hotel and Spa, Knutsford, on Saturday, October 21, when proceeds from the private event will be donated to St Ann’s.

John, a car salesman from Sale, had been diagnosed with head and neck cancer and was treated at the hospice’s site at Little Hulton.

Rebecca, from Worsley, said: “When John became too ill to be cared for at home we turned to St Ann’s for help and they were fantastic. We became his family again and not his carers.

“He was more like the John we knew with a great sense of humour. The hospice helped us so much and we want to give that opportunity to help other families. We were bowled over by their kindness.

“I then saw how amazing they were when I got to see behind the scenes during my GP training, spending two days a week at the Heald Green site for six months before I finished my training.”

Rebecca, who will be 30 on November 1, works as a GP in Swinton.