A PROUD of Barnsley winner has not been resting on her laurels since taking home one of the coveted trophies last year as she is now in the process of doing something she’s never done before - planning an elaborate charity ball.

Clare Eager won the hearts of Chronicle readers with her tragic story of grief and determination, after she began a campaign that gathered more than 50,000 signatures to increase awareness and funding of a rare form of cancer following her son - Brandon Hackett’s - untimely death.

Brandon - who was otherwise described as a healthy young man - deteriorated quickly when he was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma and died at only 20 years old.

And while Clare’s campaign may have already gone a long way in increasing people’s understanding, she’s not willing to stop now, and will now be hosting a ‘Black and White Charity Ball’ in October to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust and Bone Cancer Research Trust.

“I was talking to a lady in Scotland who’s going through the same thing,” Clare told the Chronicle.

“She’d organised a similar event and it gave me the idea to do one here.

“I’ve already had lots of kind donations of funds, and local businesses have sent in prizes for the raffle.”

Clare has never organised something like this before, though is finding the process rewarding, especially as the event - which will take place at The Fairway pub in Dodworth - will take place close to Brandon’s birthday.

She added: “I’ve never done anything like this before - I’ve done it all myself.

“It’s like planning a wedding - it’s hard work but I think it’s all worth it.”