Mum-of-four Laura Vavoulas and friends, including West End star Ria Jones, have raised thousands to help others going through cancer treatment.

They donated £6,320 to the South West Wales Cancer Fund for the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Singleton Hospital after smashing the original target of £2,500.

While being treated for breast cancer herself, Laura put together a fundraising project with the support of close friend Bonita Richards and the community.

A series of events including shows, raffles and coffee mornings were held at DunvantWorkingmen’s Club.

For the final event, Swansea-born West End star Ria Jones – who has spoken of her own experience of breast cancer – performed for free at the club, with the sell-out event raising £2,000.

Laura, who has beaten the disease, said: “Everyone in the unit is so lovely. They work their backsides off and they don’t get enough credit for it.

“This is my way of giving back to them because they helped me through one of the darkest times of my life.”

Bonita said: “It’s not very often in life you meet someone as kind as Laura. Her compassion for others knows no bounds and despite the darkest time in her life her focus was still on helping others.

“The fundraising project was all created by Laura and as the team around her, we wanted to make it shine as brilliantly as she does.

“Laura wanted to do something that was meaningful and support the staff at the chemo unit who helped her so much.”