A WARMINSTER beauty salon has raised £7,000 for Dorothy House in memory of Fiona Akers, who was cared for at the hospice before she died.

Mrs Akers died from breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 33, leaving behind her husband Adam and daughters Jess and Grace, who were only four and six at the time of her death.

Friend and owner of Just Beauty, Karen Usher, relatives and co-workers held a Glitz and Glamour Party to try and raise the £9,500 needed to run the hospice each day.

The party was on October 18 at Warminster’s Civic Centre and attended by about 200 people – many customers of the beauty salon which opened on Warminster High Street 13 years ago.

Miss Usher said: “It was very emotional, but we wanted to do something to remember Fiona and I think she would have been really proud.

“I don’t think we could ever top what we did.”

The party raised just over £6,000 and Barclay’s in Warminster rounded the figure up to £7,000, which was then handed to the hospice on Monday.

Miss Usher’s niece, Beth Usher, who works at the salon and organised the party, said: “There was a significant number of people who came and paid on the night, which surprised us the most I think.

“We had a disco, there was a bar, we also had a pink letter box given to us which people could put donations in, we had a raffle and balloon release at the end of the night.

“It was amazing. I mean, we don’t want to blow our own trumpet but it really was.”

More than 75 prizes in the raffle included a diamond and pearl necklace worth £800, donated by The Warminster Jewellers, a £750 Mulberry handbag and Center Parcs day passes.

Yvonne Brunton, community fundraiser for Dorothy House Hospice Care, said: “I continue to be amazed by such unbelievable support.”