A BRIXINGTON mum-of-four is holding her big Four-O birthday bash in aid of a cancer charity.

A BRIXINGTON mum-of-four is holding her big Four-O birthday bash in aid of a cancer charity.

Julie Brown, 39, of Rowlestone Close, is gearing up for her milestone birthday on Saturday, which is in aid of Breast Cancer UK.

For several months Julie and her three childhood friends - Tracey Hardman, 40, of Barn Lane, Budleigh Salterton, Julie Bache, 40, of Bradham Lane, Exmouth, and Liz Wood, also 40, of Pines Road, Exmouth, have been working tirelessly, contacting local businesses and organisations to support the event.

Thanks to the women's dedication, a host of prizes have been donated for a raffle which will be held on the night.

The group hopes the 150 pink-wearing party guests will dig deep and raise as much as possible for the cause.

Julie said anyone wishing to donate a raffle prize, or give a cash donation, could drop it off at Exmouth Pavilion on the lead up to the party.

Birthday girl Julie said the decision to hold the party in aid of a cancer charity was because she and her friends all knew someone who had been affected by the disease.

Former Exmouth Community College pupil Julie, who met two of her friends when they were pupils at St Peter's Primary School, in Budleigh Salterton, said: "I thought it would be a nice thing to do and something different.

"We will all be 40 this year and have all been friends for a long time.

"There are people who can't come to the party who have given me money already.

"Organising it has been fun. I think we will be bored when it's finished.

"A lot of people have been really generous. Everyday I have been getting raffle prizes through the post.

"Local businesses have been so good. A lot of them have given without being asked.

"My family think it is lovely the party is for a good cause. I didn't want it to be about me. It's nice to do it for someone else."

Julie said her friend Tracey had been instrumental in putting the plan into action - spending hours writing to local businesses asking for raffle prizes.

She said it was thanks to her friend's efforts so many prizes - including vouchers, tickets, gifts and toiletries - were up for grabs.

Mum-of-two Tracey said: "It's taken a really long time but it's worthwhile and it's been good fun."

The group want to thank DKN Hair, Franklins, Attitude Hair, Aby's and the Pavilion, among others, for their help and donations.