HUNDREDS of music fans and charity supporters supported a two-day festival which raises awareness of the Organ Donor Register.

The annual Hen Fest event, which ran across Friday and Saturday is now in its sixth year. It was held in a field near Julia's Bridge in Wimborne, which has been organised by resident, Gail Stuart, whose daughter, Kate Hennessy, has cystic fibrosis.

Live music, beer and ale, craft tents, art, cakes and music workshops were available for visitors to enjoy while raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, which have helped Kate.

Each year, Kate also speaks at the festival about the importance of signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and telling loved ones about their wish for their organs to be used to save lives.

Gail said: "We had completely sold out of all 499 tickets. We had so much going on including the musician, Will McNicol, who has played at Hen Fest every year.

"We also have had Black Water County, Disco's Out (Murder's In) who were our Friday night headline act, Kadia and Dharma Blitz among many others.

"There's just so many volunteers who help at all the stands and do it out of the kindness of their hearts.

"In total, we have raised over £30,000 from previous years of Hen Fest and this year, I am hoping to raise £15,000, which I think we're going to get."

Kate added: "The main thing is that people really enjoy themselves and they seemed to be doing that.

"With Cystic Fibrosis, there's so many layers to how it can destruct your mind, your family and your life. One of the biggest things for me was that although I was suffering, it was horrible to see my family having to suffer as well."

However, she adds, through her own very difficult first-hand experience of being on the organ transplant waiting list, she has been able to bring hope and advice to people going through a similar situation.

Kate also spoke to Charles Michael Duke, a singer and actor from Bournemouth, who also has cystic fibrosis and is currently on the organ transplant waiting list for a double lung transplant.

He has launched a campaign called Donate Mate, which involves a person signing up to the organ donor register, telling their next of kin and then nominating a friend through social media to do the same.

NHS Blood and Transplant reports that over 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant. Of these three a day will die waiting as there are not enough organs available.

For more information, go to Henfest.org.uk