A ‘ZUMBATHON’ has raised more than £2,000 for a mother with terminal cancer.

Neon colours flooded West Buckland School’s sports hall on Sunday for ‘Nicky’s Neon Zumba Party’, held to help raise money for 33-year-old Nicky Vanstone.

Mrs Vanstone, who lives at Bratton Fleming, and has a two-year-old daughter, received a diagnosis of terminal bowel cancer at the start of the year, which has spread to her liver.

She is undergoing chemotherapy, but has been told the chemotherapy will not cure her. Mrs Vanstone is looking into private treatments and trials abroad.

Her school friend Kirsten Hilton, a PE teacher at Budehaven School, decided to organise the ‘Zumbathon’ after hearing of her friend’s diagnosis.

Mrs Hilton said: “I will never forget the moment I received a message from a close friend explaining that our friend has cancer, then read on to discover it’s terminal. First, I couldn’t comprehend it, didn’t feel real at all. It was New Year, everyone was happy after an amazing Christmas. I had just given birth to my second child two months before.

“I saw Nicky just before giving birth, she was happy, looked healthy and amazing as always. Immediately, her daughter Fern was in my thoughts. She is only two. The next few moments, I can only describe as a maternal whirlwind. Life is so unfair. Why? She doesn’t deserve this. Her family don’t deserve this. Terminal cancer patients have proved their oncologists wrong in the past, why can’t Nicky?

“After messaging her immediately, I was over whelmed by her courage, positivity and request for humour. Even when cancer steps in her path, she remains the same. This woman is incredible, a true inspiration. There I am blubbering away, holding my little girl and baby boy tight and there she is holding her little girl and absorbing all her strength so she fights with immense positivity. I knew I had to help.”

Mrs Hilton said she immediately thought of her friend and Zumba instructor from Bude, Lisa Wood. Mrs Hilton had helped Lisa with a fundraising fitness festival event last year in support of two people with cancer.

Mrs Hilton added: “She is an incredible instructor but has a fantastic talent at fundraising. After putting on this outstanding fundraiser I was hopeful she would help me and consequently Nicky. One text led to a phone call and within 10 minutes Lisa and I had it all planned out.

“We were going to hold a Zumbathon at West Buckland School, where Nicky and I went to school together. We put together an old school friend crew, all of which are mummies now too! Jobs were delegated out and nothing was too much for anyone. Gemma Courtney, Sophie Yates, Lucy Rosenbaum, Claire Lynch and Naomi Wild were fantastic selling raffle tickets, making cakes and raising awareness of the event.

“Nicky’s got a crazy personality so we went with a neon theme and Lisa Wood and the other three amazing Zumba instructors — Helen Degg, Heidi Baker and Jane Osborn ensured their song choices were quirky and exciting. Lisa even considered Nicky’s love of the beach and used Morcheeba as her cool down track. It’s at this point I need to stress that Lisa had never met Nicky before but listened to what I was saying and took an interest in Nicky’s journey.”

Mrs Hilton said the music was ‘booming’ and faces were ‘beaming’ on the day. Mrs Vanstone joined in, and Mrs Hilton added: “Her energy was inspirational. Although the highlight was watching her husband and his friends Zumba. They were amazing and did it for the males, proving that men can Zumba just as well, if not better than females!”

This was followed by an auction of a prize donated from Knapp House Activity Centre. Emily Benny, who owns Budeiful Brides in Bude, was the extremely generous winner of a two-hour surfing lesson for up to 16 people.

The luxury raffle was drawn and the prizes disappeared very quickly off stage. Mrs Vanstone won the ‘Timeout Hamper’ — a weekend stay in Westward Ho! and a 90 minute whole body relaxation treatment at Hartland Spa.

Mrs Hilton added: “Nicky thoroughly deserved this prize and I hope Chris and her can spend some quality time together.”

Mrs Vanstone’s daughter, Fern and Mrs Hilton’s daughter, Jessica, drew the tickets from the raffle.

Nicky Vanstone said: “The Zumbathon was incredible. So many amazing people joined in and danced away for two hours! I felt so overwhelmed and touched by all the love and kindness. Thank you everyone who helped raise so much money, you are all beautiful people.

“Thank you so much to all my mummy friends for organising it and all the amazing Zumba instructors.”

Thanks were expressed to the instructors who gave up their time, all those who donated prizes as well as everyone who attended and contributed.

The total raised was £2,040. The money raised is going towards research into potential lifesaving treatments, travel costs and charitable organisations.