Brave mum Georgia Leah was the star of the show with a moving account of how East Cheshire Hospice helped her family.
Georgia told a packed audience at a glittering ball at Cranage Hall about her experiences when husband Leon died in March 2023.
Guests were moved to tears by her inspiring story of how the Hospice came to the rescue when Leon needed care during his final weeks.
The drayman at Wincle Brewery died from pancreatic cancer, aged 53.
The ball, organised by fundraisers What Women Want, raised £24,600 for the Hospice.
Georgia, from Macclesfield, readily accepted an invitation to be guest speaker.
Georgia Leah (centre) with relatives Bridie Gilligan (left) and Nicole Ronan at the ball.
The request came from Jill Harding, a health care assistant at the Hospice and one of the five female fundraisers in the group.
Georgia said: “I started crying when I was asked if I’d give a speech and said, ‘Of course I’ll help.’
“I’ll do whatever I can to help the Hospice. I was nervous and shaking during the speech, but it went down well.
“I’d never written a speech like that before but spoke from the heart. More than half the room must have come up to me afterwards to give me a hug and say how amazing it was.
“I said I was just telling them the truth about what we experienced and how incredible the Hospice were.
“Leon didn’t want to go into the Hospice initially, even though it was to manage his pain.
“But the Hospice became our second home for the next three weeks and allowed us to be a family and spend proper time together. Changing medication gave us Leon back and he started to smile again.
“When our world was falling apart the Hospice gave us the support we needed to keep going.
“Whether that was a hug when needed, medication for Leon and even having those hard conversations.
“Leon felt more comfortable knowing that people were there to look after me and our daughter Ruby, who is now four.”
Georgia has raised £10,000 for the Hospice and is considering hosting her own ball.
She said: “I’d love to keep doing big fundraising runs but am conscious that I’m asking the same group of people for donations all the time.
“Maybe a ball is a good idea, with help. Ruby and me still go to the Hospice. It’s a big part of our lives and always will be.”
