Rachel Lane.; Photo: Bill Smith

A Mulbarton woman is holding a special birthday party in memory of her friend to help raise money for two cancer charities.

Rachel Lane, left, with Katie Thouless Kingsley (middle) and her sister, Amanda Lane (right)

Katie Thouless-Kingsley is holding an Elvis night at The Talk on March 16 in memory of her friend, Rachel Lane.

Rachel, who lived in Barnham Broom Road, Wymondham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and died in October last year aged 27.

Her family set up the Rachel Lane Fund to help local cancer charities.

Mrs Thouless-Kingsley, who lives in Bromedale Avenue, Mulbarton with her husband, Oliver, and their four sons, said: “Rachel was a little bit zany like me. I knew it would be hard to celebrate her birthday but I thought we should celebrate it as if she was here.”

She would have celebrated her 28th birthday on March 8.

Money raised from the event will be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Rachel Lane Fund. Mark Fitch, a partner at Norwich law firm Hatch Brenner, who also works as an Elvis impersonator, will be performing at the event.

“Rachel had a bucket list and I arranged a Las Vegas night for her,” Mrs Thouless-Kinglsey added.

“She couldn’t fly so we brought Vegas to her.

“She also had a singing lesson in a studio with Mark and sang at the Forum.”

Mrs Thouless-Kingsley has been friends with Rachel’s sister Amanda, since they were toddlers.

Tickets cost £13 and can be bought from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01603 603000