NEARLY 200 people packed into a hotel for a night of singing and laughter to support a charity helping people with cancer.

Now in its third year, the Laugh Yourself Better event is the brainchild of Sandra Jones, founder and chief executive of Odyssey Foundation Cumbria and is supported by TV funnyman Patrick Monahan.

Mr Monahan is a patron of the charity and was in Carlisle to headline the show for the third year running.

“It’s great to have his support and every year we seem to have more and more people coming along,” Sandra told the News & Star .

“We had a full house, which was absolutely fantastic. Every year it’s different. We have some people who have been coming each time but there’s others who have just found out about Laugh Yourself Better, which is our main fundraising event.

“Last year we raised £4,300 so we always feel that we can do better. This year we sold 186 tickets which I’m absolutely delighted about.”

The evening, at the Crown & Mitre Hotel, also featured music from Melanie Kinsella and Fireball, as well as a fundraising auction and prize draw – topped off with a disco.

“There’s something for everyone, which is why it’s such a great night,” Sandra added. “Patrick also brought along two other comedians, Frank Garrity and Carl Gillespie as well.”

Sandra set up the Odyssey Foundation to help plug gaps in support she found while going through her own cancer treatment, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

Mr Monahan’s involvement with Odyssey Foundation Cumbria came after he performed at an event organised by Lee Sherriff, Labour’s Carlisle City councillor for Harraby.

“He came to do a gig for something I’d arranged a few years ago and so I got to know him,” she explained.

“After that I asked if he’d be interested in coming to do Laugh Yourself Better, which he agreed to and then he also agreed to become a patron.”