A retired teacher has raised more than £5,000 for a hospice, in memory of her godson.

Teresa Simmonds organised the 'Dance for Matt' event in memory of Matt Chapman, who died after battling cancer.

The event raised £5,400 for the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, where Matt received end-of-life care.

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Ms Simmonds said: "My godson Matt was given the respect, care, and love he deserved at the end of a traumatic and painful cancer journey.

"In his final days, he was made as comfortable as possible, allowing him to spend precious time with his mum, dad, and many loved ones."

The event was filled with music, dancing, and tributes, creating an atmosphere that reflected Matt’s lively spirit.

Ms Simmonds said: "Matt was a little boy who grew into an amazing young man."

"Attendance and support for the event was amazing and sadly, due to the size of the venue, we had a limited number of places.

"Because Matt was loved by so many, I know we could have had more people there to celebrate his life and maybe raise more.

"We really hope that our event made a difference."

Reflecting on the care the hospice offered, Ms Simmonds said: "Visiting Matt at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice gave me an insight into how essential and crucial the care provided by a hospice is.

"I couldn’t get over just how understanding, respectful, and in tune the staff were with the needs of this unique and beautiful young man, his family, and his friends."

She added: "I really believe everyone should automatically be entitled to a dignified and respectful death in a caring environment - feeling safe and wrapped in the love of the people who mean the most to them."

Sue Soffe, community fundraiser at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, said: "It's wonderful to see the impact our hospice and nurses have on patients needing not just expert care but emotional support in their final days.

"We want to thank Teresa for organising such an uplifting and meaningful fundraising event for Matt."

The funds raised support the hospice in providing palliative care and support for families.