Darcy's disco raises £1,000-plus for Facial Palsy UK

Schoolgirl Darcy Foulsham-Perkins has raised more than £1,000 for a charity close to her heart after hosting a family disco.

Darcy (8) has had facial palsy - a weakness of the facial muscles resulting from damage to the facial nerve which can cause paralysis - since she was born and began raising money for the Facial Palsy UK charity last year.

More than 175 people attended her fundraising disco at Sutton St James Village Hall, which included children’s entertainment and a giant raffle, helping her take her overall fundraising effort to more than £3,200 so far.

Darcy’s parents Jodie and Bobby were delighted with the turn out and the support she received from friends and family on the night.

“It was a fantastic night – Darcy was delighted with how many people came along to support her and was really pleased with the amount she raised,” said Jodie.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to our DJ Matt Wilson, who kept the children and grown- ups entertained all night, everyone who donated raffle prizes and, of course, all those who came along.”

Darcy, who is a pupil at Long Sutton Primary School, is hoping to have surgery to correct her facial palsy, but has to wait until she turns nine next year before she can see consultants at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital in London.

In the meantime she is planning more fundraising activities to support Facial Palsy UK - which supports research into causes and treatments as well as helping people and their families who are living with it.

So far she has raised funds through a dance-a-thon and a charity bingo afternoon. Her next fundraiser will be a Christmas bingo and raffle at Sutton St James Village Hall, from 2pm on Sunday, December 9. No need to book, just turn up on the day.