A kind-hearted couple from Potterne who lost their daughter to cystic fibrosis have made a £1,000 donation to help pay for a charity ball to be held in Chippenham next year.

Organiser Wendy Claridge, who runs Monkton Park Golf Course with her husband Peter, was amazed after receiving the donation from the couple, who she does not want to name.

The money will be used to get the charity ball off the ground next July. It will be combined with a mystery donation of several hundred pounds that was made to Mrs Claridge in August.

Mother-of-four Mrs Claridge said: “Since the story about the mystery donation appeared in the Gazette we have received an extremely generation contribution from a local family who regrettably lost their daughter to cystic fibrosis five years ago.”

Money raised from ticket sales will be donated in aid of Cystic Fibrosis, the Forever Friends Baby Unit at Bath’s Royal United Hospital and the St Nicholas School Appeal for a Pool (SNAP).

Mrs Claridge added: “We chose Cystic Fibrosis as one of the charities because my husband lost a brother 40 years ago. We chose the baby unit because two of our own children were born premature and the SNAP appeal is a local charity, which we wanted to back.

“When we discovered that we had received such a large donation I had to sit down. We thought it may take a couple of years before we could make the charity ball a reality but this changed everything.”

A committee called the Hugs and Cuddles Association was set up by Mr and Mrs Claridge and a small group of friends and they set a date for July 2 next year.

The ball will be held at the Neeld Hall in Chippenham and guests will be welcomed with champagne before enjoying a three-course dinner with live entertainment. The champagne is being provided free thanks to a family friend of Mrs Claridge.

The committee is collecting prizes for a raffle, and an auction on the night will see one guest take home a luxury break at a local five star spa hotel.

Mrs Claridge said: “It’s amazing how far we have come so quickly. The idea all started after seeing three of my children go to a prom night and I thought that I’d love to dress up and go to my own prom, which I never had the opportunity to do at school.

“After discussing it with my husband we realised it would be a good way to raise a lot of money for deserving charities.”

Anyone interested in obtaining a £35 ticket or those who would like to donate to the raffle and auction should contact Wendy Claridge on (01249) 653928, 07738 557866 or they can visit the tea room at Monkton Park Golf Course.