A Butterfly Ball to be held at St Mellion International Resort on Saturday, May 4, is to be the last big fundraising event for Kt's fund.

The charity was set up in 2006 in memory of a popular Liskeard girl, 20-year-old Katie Hallett, whose sudden death was a huge shock and loss for her family and many friends.

Katie, a former pupil of St Martin's primary school in Liskeard and then Devonport High School for Girls, was in the final year of her degree at Bristol to become a children's nurse when she suddenly died at the house she was sharing with her three close student friends.

At the inquest, the cause of Katie's death was identified by the coroner as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

Although Katie was first diagnosed with epilepsy just before she became 15, her seizures were few and far between, and they were pushed into the background of her life. But at 19 the seizures came back – becoming more noticeable – and she was referred to an epilepsy specialist nurse based at Derriford Hospital. Unfortunately, the long waiting list meant that, sadly, Katie never had the appointment.

Then, early the next January, after spending a lovely Christmas with her boyfriend and family at home, the tragedy occurred.

Such was the popularity of this caring, fun-loving and popular girl – who was also blessed with a beautiful singing voice – that 400 people attended a thanksgiving service for her life.

Katie's family had never heard of SUDEP, and after advice on how best something could be done in her memory, they went about setting up Kt's fund, which is already saving lives in Cornwall. The use of Katie's name here stands for 'Knowledge and Training in Epilepsy', and since her death the fund has been working in conjunction with SUDEP Action on a pilot project in Cornwall, where researchers are trying to establish whether a 'safety check list' might help doctors identify epilepsy patients at risk of SUDEP.

The project is led by Dr Rohit Shanker, Professor Stephen Brown and Dr Emma Carlyon (Cornwall Coroner). The cost of the life-saving project is £62,000 and is funded by Kt's fund which, through fundraising activities, has already raised £50,000.

This has included three balls, the first held by the Liskeard/ Looe Ladies Circle, of which Katie's mum, Liz Hollingdale, was a member at the time. The second ball was at Newquay and was coupled with SUDEP Action, followed by a third ball at Liskeard School and Community College in 2011 in the form of a medieval banquet.

Liz says the Butterfly Ball will be the last big push, as there is only £12,000 left to raise. 'Hopefully the ball will go a big way towards the final total. When it is reached our work will be done and Kt's fund will be de-registered as a charity,' she said. 'The fund has seemed to us to be a fitting memorial to one whose life was cut so tragically short. The project has been highlighting the inadequacies of epilepsy awareness and making sure there will be better provision here in Cornwall for the future.

'I am sure Katie would have been honoured to think so much has been achie-ved in her memory which will go on to save the lives of others.'

Family members say that, most importantly, they want to thank their fellow traders in Liskeard, who have been fantastic: 'Even though going through difficult times, when they have been approached for raffles and donations, they have never said no. They have been brilliant. In fact the support from the Liskeard community as a whole and beyond has been amazing. Thank you so much,' they said.

Anyone wishing to attend Kt's Butterfly Ball, at which the band will be Company B, can buy tickets at The Flower Gallery, Pike Street, Liskeard, or phone 01579 342897.