AN ACTOR and comedian was the guest of honour at a charity fundraising lunch held at a hotel in Sandbanks.

Debra Stephenson, patron of Julia’s House children’s hospice, attended the Ladies Lunch event on Monday in aid of the good cause, at Harbour Heights in Poole.

Julia’s House helps life-limited children and their families across the south by offering respite sessions and care at home, as well as running events for siblings and parents, to support the whole family.

Debra, now based in Dorset, said that as soon as she heard and visited the hospice, she knew that it was something that she wanted to be involved with. She said: “I didn’t know what to expect. I had been to a hospice before but never a children’s hospice.

“I was scared, to be honest.

“I thought that it would be emotional and I wasn’t sure who I might see or what I might see.

“It’s a very happy place for children to go. I was really, really impressed with the sensory room in particular. It’s amazing and a lovely place for children with special needs to feel, touch and enjoy. I was really impressed.”

Debra said that her favourite event which fundraised for the charity was appearing on ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? alongside actor and impressionist Jon Culshaw, which made £25,000 for the cause.

But, Debra added that she was determined to do more to help because Julia’s House is ‘ambitious’ in its plans to make things better for the children and families that it works with.

For more information on Julia’s House, visit the website juliashouse.org.