Fellow fundraisers have paid tribute to the “inspirational” leadership of a Suffolk woman who helped generate almost £1million for cancer care.

Juliet Bellfield established the Woodbridge and District Committee for Macmillan Cancer Support in 1986.

In 2012, she and the committee were awarded the charity’s highest honour – the Douglas Macmillan Award. It was the first time in the charity’s history that the award was given to an entire committee.

Throughout Mrs Bellfield’s almost 30 years as chairman, fundraising activities included organising and catering 10 Christmas and New Year’s Eve balls for 500 young people, compiling a rota of more than 40 Father Christmases and 120 helpers to man the grotto at a local garden centre, and putting together more than 100 other events such as concerts, walks, marathons, bridge and golf days, lunches and dinners.

For more than 20 years, she gave weekly practical help at Woodbridge’s Grove Court care home, where she personally welcomed new residents, organised trolley services, provided flowers and dealt with staff-resident relationships.

She was a driver for the Red Cross for a decade – during which time, and at her own expense, she hosted an annual tea party for 40 older people in her home.

In tribute to her work, the Woodbridge committee said: “Juliet Bellfield devoted herself tirelessly with huge success and completely without self-interest, to giving leadership and acting as a role model inspiring, motivating, guiding and driving her committee, always leading from the front, always willing to go the extra mile, working harder and longer than anyone else with unfailing good humour and a light touch.

“She selflessly dedicated the whole of her adult life entirely to the full time voluntary service of those less fortunate than herself.

“She was an outstandingly committed, innovative and inspirational leader, whose unflagging drive and dogged determination has made a huge difference to so many.”

Mrs Bellfield, whose death was announced on October 12, was married with three sons.

The committee continues its aim of raising £165,000 towards a five chair chemotherapy bay for Ipswich Hospital’s Macmillan Woolverstone Centre. To make a donation in memory of Mrs Bellfield, send a cheque (payable to Macmillan Cancer Support) to Chris Woods, Treasurer, Woodbridge Committee for Macmillan Cancer Support, 16 Ipswich Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4BU.