A clothes chain owner has raised £23k for a cancer charity after hosting a fundraising fashion show.

Anna Park - who runs a Norfolk and Suffolk fashion chain - pledged to raise £60k in her 60th year for Mind Over Cancer in July.

She and husband Richard Park – a radio executive and former judge on popular early 2000s BBC TV show Fame Academy - are both patrons of the charity.

It helps young people aged up to 29 with support networks after a cancer diagnosis.

Mrs Park owns five ANNA stores - in Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Burnham Market, Holt and Primrose Hill in London.

As part of her pledge, she organised a fashion show and raffle at Thursford Garden Pavilion in Fakenham, Norfolk, which donated the venue, food and nibbles.

More than 100 guests attended, and Mr Park presided as auctioneer.

The sum raised was "beyond what we had hoped for", said Mrs Park.

"On top of that, I have a JustGiving page, as I asked people to donate to the charity rather than give me a birthday present when I turned 60 in July.

Anna Park at the show (Image: ANNA)

“So with the money we raised at the fashion show and with the JustGiving page, it means we are already up to around £30k of my overall £60k pledge and I’m so pleased."

She now wants to organise a fashion show on a bigger scale to keep raising money.

"As patrons, my husband and I are totally committed to the charity.”

Mind Over Cancer founder and chief executive Susie Shaw said she was "completely overwhelmed" by the support. 

"When you are a small charity – this amount of money really is life changing in terms of the work that we can do to support young people and their families," she said.

“This funds will go towards children, young people and their families to support anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis."

She added: “We are so grateful to Anna, her team and Richard, Thursford Pavilion, all those who donated raffle prizes and everyone who came along to this event.”

Thursford Pavilion general manager Charlie Cushing said: “Anna approached us. She told us about the wonderful things Mind Over Cancer do to support young people with their mental health after they have received a cancer diagnosis – their recovery process – and their families.

“We thought it was an area in the cancer world that that has been overlooked. It’s an amazing charity, they are new and we wanted to do as much as we could by donating the venue, promoting the event and providing food and drinks."

Mr Cushing and two of his colleagues have also raised  £1472 for the charity with a skydive.

“I think it’s so important to get involved and help them as so many people benefit from the wonderful things charities do.”

All models at the fashion show were staff members who work for ANNA.