A HOST of musicians performed at the annual fundraising festival held in support of a Wimborne woman who received a lifesaving lung transplant.

Kate Hennessy, 24, who has Cystic Fibrosis, is the inspiration behind Hen Fest, which was held on June 19 and 20 near to Julian's Bridge in Wimborne, which brings together musicians, food, drink, arts and crafts for the event.

It is organised by Kate's mum, Gail Stuart, in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital's Charity, which looked after Kate when she became very ill before received a lung transplant in 2012.

During the event, Kate spoke to festival-goers about her first hand experience of being so ill that she was put on the Organ Transplant List aged 19.

She said: "I was just lying in my bed waiting to die but I was barely conscious most of the time.

"I remember the doctors coming to my bed and saying 'You don't have long left. Maybe hours'."

Fortunately just a short time later, the family received the news a suitable donor had been found for her, which was not without its complications, but now aims to 'live life'. Since the transplant, she has been backpacking in Australia and Japan and headed to Bali the day after the event.

Kate went on to say that Hen Fest was a chance to reflect on those who are waiting for a transplant, those who had received one and those who had sadly died while waiting.

Solo artists and bands who performed as part of the Hen Fest event included Catherine Burke, who is one of the organisers of Purbeck Folk Festival, Will Pope, Empire Affair and Will McNicol.

Kate's mum, Gail, said that were a number of people at the festival who had received an organ transplant or are living with Cystic Fibrosis and understood the importance of raising money for the charities.

She added that as well as music, the event also featured a silent auction with prizes including weekend tickets to Reading Festival, Larmer Tree and Bestival. Ticket-holders could also buy merchandise which was branded with the Hen Fest logo, learn circus skills and get their faces painted.

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 Organdonation.nhs.uk