A FRINTON woman will lead a hoard of colleagues in a seafront fundraiser to help a friend who is recovering from a life-saving operation.

Sarah Heard, of Pole Barn Lane, started raising cash at the beginning of the year for best friend Sam after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour just before Christmas.

Sam, 40, who lives in Hampshire with her husband and two children, had a life-saving operation to reduce the size of the tumour last month.

It was a success and she is now set to be moved over to America for three months of pioneering radiotherapy as part of her treatment.

Sarah, who has been best friends with Sam since they were at school together, has launched a fundraising bid to help with the costs and allow her family over to see her during the treatment.

Sarah works at Manheim Car Auction in Frating and has persuaded 25 colleagues to join her on a sponsored walk from Walton Pier to Clacton Pier.

She said: “When Sam told me it was a shock and I wanted to do everything possible to help. It has been very scary for her.

“I’ve been blown away by the generosity of everyone. My co-workers have never met Sam but they are doing helping in any way they can."

The sponsored seafront walk will take place on Saturday March 29.

Walkers will be collecting funds on the day and people can donate online at http://gogetfunding.com/project/heartfelt-plea-for-sam-1.