Journalist leaves her legacy of a £20,000 charity ball

A TV producer’s dying wish to raise funds for a cancer charity which supported her during her final months alive has been realised.

Leeds-born Heather Clark initiated the charity ball during the final weeks of her life this spring. However, the 55-year-old ITV journalist died in June of ovarian cancer.

She aimed to raise £10,000 for the charity, Ovacome, but after the ball was held on September 28 the final total was £20,000.

Up to 300 people attended the black tie event, including ITV friends, her family, friends from the riding world and medical staff who had cared for her.

Her friends, ITV Calendar presenters Christine Talbot and Gaynor Barnes, hosted the event.

They paid fitting tributes to the journalist, who was born with thalidomide-related impairments which meant she had no arms or legs

“Up until a couple of days before she died Heather was frantically organising every little detail of the ball,’ recalled Ms Talbot.

Ms Clark was a much-loved figure among the staff at the ITV Kirkstall Road studios, where she spent 25 years as a researcher and producer.

She worked on the news programme Calendar, as well as

Crime Stoppers, the Christmas Toy Appeal and Tonight magazine show. Outside work, Ms Clark took up carriage driving, went on to compete at international level, and was involved with the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Chief executive of Ovacome, Victoria Clare, attended the event and told the guests: “We are so grateful to Heather and all her friends who attended the ball and gave so generously.”

Anyone wishing to donate to a Just Giving fund set up by Heather should go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heathersovacomeappeal.