HAIRDRESSER Paris Steenson was overwhelmed when family and friends raised more than £3,000 to help her through eight sessions of chemotherapy.

Twenty-year-old Paris, of Toothill, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma four weeks ago and is currently beginning her second course of treatment.

Her family decided to hold a fundraiser at the Bakers Arms, in Badbury, on Saturday night, and have now raised thousands for new wigs for Paris after she loses her hair.

Donations will also be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Research and Dove Unit at Great Western Hospital.

Paris’ brother David Harrington, who organised the event, said: “The total was just over £3,100, and we are still waiting on a few people to pay up to get the final tally.

“The night was extremely busy. We cleared all the tables and chairs out of the pub just to make room, and we needed to because it was like sardines in there.

“We made more than £1,000 off the raffle alone, as people were spending £30 to £40 a go on tickets. “The prizes were good, but out of all of them we only had three that sold for less than they were actually worth. “We were selling £50 vouchers for more than £60, and people were generous. It wasn’t really about the prizes.”

“The money is already being portioned off for various causes.

“We will be giving £1,000 to Leukemia and Lym-phoma Research, which then gets doubled by Barclays, so that will give them a £2,000 donation in total which is amazing. “We are also going to buy a lot of flat screen TVs for the Dove Unit at Great Western Hospital, because they did brilliantly caring for Paris and that is what they are in need of.

“I would like to give them a cash donation as well, and then we will be looking at the right wigs to buy for Paris. “We will be getting two real hair wigs and all the accessories to keep them looking healthy, so we are looking at around £800 for those.

“Paris had her second round of chemotherapy on Wednesday, but she was all right at the event and stayed until the end. She was feeling good and she looked it.

“The whole family were very emotional on Saturday. A few words were said by her mum and a lot of people added to that. “Paris was a bit overwhelmed by it all. “She could not believe how many peope had turned out and how much we raised.”